What Was I Thinking?

Diercks Bentley got it right when he wrote his country western song called "What was I thinking?" It is a song that did well and I know it is because sooo many of us could identify with saying. There were times in my life when I have asked it of myself, times when others have said it to me, and times when I have asked it of others. We have perhaps all felt the sting of that question. It is dangerous for us to live without evaluating our thoughts.

Today in the scientific community many have rallied around this concept of linking our behavior to our thoughts. One of the most popular psychological approaches being taught today is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. It corrects thinking behind behaviors to make changes. The American Psychiatric Association indicated that among psychotherapeutic approaches, CBT is the most effective treatment for major depressive disorders.

We are being confronted with the truth that our thoughts drive our actions.

The Scriptures have always linked our thoughts to our actions. Gen 6:5 "The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time." God knows our predicament. Christ connected thoughts to actions in the sermon on the mount. In reguards to murder and lust he said if you think it, you might as well have done it. The Apostle Paul indicates that we can win in this area of our thought life in 2Cor 10:5, "we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ”

How did he do that? Could We? What if we could somehow learn how to filter our thoughts?

I think Paul gave us a great filter for our thoughts in oen particular verse in the scriptures. Look at Philippians 4:8 with me. In it Paul uses 6 adjectives and 2 nouns that lay a great foundation for creating this filter.

I memorized it and shared this message with amny of you this weekend in service. It is my sincere hope that many of you have committed this text to memory and are using it to help you walk in the victory Christ has provided.