“Do not eat the food offered to you by a stingy man. Do not crave the delicacies of a miser, for as he thinks in his heart so is he. ‘Eat! Drink!’ He says to you and you’re flattered by all the attention. But his heart is not with you. He’s fretting over what it’s costing him to feed you.” (Proverbs 23:6&7.)
What are you thinking about when you’re not thinking?
If you’re reading this you probably are using a computer or some sort of device that gives you access to the Internet. You’re likely familiar with the process of installing software or “apps.” Usually, at some point during the process you’re given a choice between a “default,” and “custom” version of the product. The “default” option is the easiest. The designers/manufacturers have decided what will best meet the needs of people using their product and programmed it accordingly. Click “default” and the product will work the way they think is best for you. With the “custom,” option you are presented choices and get to decide how you want the tool to serve your purposes.
I was talking about this with a group of people recently. One woman said, “I just choose ‘default. I don’t want to be bothered with all the details.”
Is this the way you approach thinking?
What are your “default” thoughts? How do they affect your heart? What are you thinking in those mindless situations of your life? Do you worry? Are most of your “unthinking” thoughts anxious? Do you see a neighbor’s new car and think, “It must be nice?” Do you replay the putdowns and denigrating things you’ve heard until you’re incorrigibly self-deprecating? Dr. Amen, the “Brain” guy says that we all have “ANTS” in our brains. These Automatic Negative Thoughts are universal and universally damaging.
It will certainly be a bother. But you have a choice. You can “customize” your thinking. Your “default thoughts” can be re-programmed. Dr. Amen believes and encourages it. So does Scripture.
“As he thinks in his heart, so is he,” the Wise Man says.
When you choose to think well your heart – what matters most to you … the direction of your life – is well.
John tells us that when Jesus appeared He was like His Father, “full of grace and truth.” Son of Man that He is these qualities had to be developed in Him. As a young Jewish boy He studied the Scriptures. By His Bar-Mitzvah (See Luke 2) He was impressively familiar with them. There are compelling reasons to believe He had memorized most of the Sacred Writings of His people. He was a true “Psalm 1 man.” He found delight in every word of Scripture because He knew it was His Father’s word to Him about the meaning and purpose of His now human life. He “meditated on it – thought about it - day and night.” His life became fruitful. He grew to know the right course for His life because God had “charted the road He was to take.” He simply followed the Scriptures. He was convinced they were His Father’s map.
“THINK GREAT THOUGHTS!”
Or, as Dr. Amen says, “Once you learn about your thoughts, you can chose to think good thoughts and feel good or you can choose to think bad thoughts and feel lousy. You can train your thoughts to be positive and hopeful or you can just allow them to be negative and upset you. That's right, it's up to you!”
Of all people you, a Child of God, can train your thoughts to be positive and hopeful! God – your Father – has spoken to you! Meditate on what He’s said! Think about it day and night! In time, even when you’re not thinking, you’ll be thinking what your elder Brother thinks … TRUTH!
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