To lead a significant life

WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23)

Throughout all the pages of the Bible the heart is viewed as the center of life and is always associated with our thoughts.
That is the reason that Solomon declared “ as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7).

We know that the mind is the center of thought, yet the importance of what we think and the reasons behind the thoughts become the central issues of our lives.

We have all heard it said that “we are what we think” and how true it is; if our thinking creates a defeatist attitude, then we cannot succeed.

If we think that we will always be ill, then we quickly become the doctors, and the pharmacist best friends as our pocketbooks are opened to their every whim.

When we think that our bank accounts will always be reflected in a negative balance, then we will only find ways to make it so.

If we think that our loved ones will never come to the cross, then we do them no favors when we stop witnessing and encouraging them to consider the Son of God.

We must allow all of our thought to mirror what scripture says that our lives and relationships can become.

There is a centrality of thoughts that we should consider.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)
The basic rendering of this is simply “keep your heart as closely guarded as possible.”

What you are today and whatever you will be tomorrow is the consequence of your thought life.
We truly have the power to become as we think and say. All of the issues of life begin and end with our thinking.
There are consequences to our thoughts.

Following the words of Proverbs 4:23; Solomon points out that our thinking affects our lips, our eyes, and our feet.

What we dwell upon in our thoughts is what we will discuss with our acquaintances and those who are close to us.

“Put away from thee a forward mouth, and perverse lips put far away from thee.(Proverbs 4:24)

It never takes long for us to discover the matters of another persons life, if we will only allow them a few moments to talk without interruption, we quickly learn of the readings that the person engages in, the hobbies that time and energy are spent upon, and the lifestyle that is embraced by the speaker.

The issues are uttered through the mouth, but are born and housed in the heart.
This is why the Lord said, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” (Matthew 12:24)

Our thought life also affects the observational life.

“Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.” (Proverbs 4:24)
Your entire slant on life is affected by the way you think.

Whenever a person has organized their thinking to line up with Gods ideas, then they are not bothered by the peripheral issues.

The Apostle Paul said it this way. “but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before” (Philippians 3:13)

Another area of life influenced by our thinking is the operational life.

“Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.” (Proverbs 4:26)
Once our thought life is under control and measured there is no question as to the path that we should walk.

The Psalmist wrote, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.” (Psalms 37:23)

We must control our thoughts.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence.” (Proverbs 4:23)

In the New Testament the secret to such diligent guarding is divulged in this manner, by the Apostle Paul, “bringing every thought to the obedience of Christ.” ( 2 Corinthians 10:5)

No one experiences the fullness of their intended purpose until they have brought their heart, mind and thought life under the discipline of the Son of God.

Seek understanding and knowledge, wisdom will follow, and become evident in the things we say, the places we go, and the ones we associate with.