The Psalmist addresses one of the most secret parts of man and reveals a characteristic that divides the wicked from the righteous. He said, “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts” (Psa. 10:4). It’s hard to argue with a divinely revealed judgement that pride is the root of this trait but it also means that if there are times that God is not in our thoughts then we have room to improve. And in fact, our thoughts are judged by God and scripture.
Paul noted through a rhetorical question that we cannot know what anyone is thinking unless they tell us, “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?” (1Cor. 2:11a). It’s easy to think about God when we’re in trouble or need something special to happen in our lives, but do we think about God when we’re praised for doing well? Herod didn’t when he was complimented by the people for a speech and God knew it, “And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost” (Acts 12:23). Does our pride prevent us from seeing God in others who are made in His image? He tells us He is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34)? Or do we think about God as we make plans? James admonishes, “For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (James 4:15).
But our thoughts are not known only to ourselves. They are judged by God and He desires that they not lead us into the wrong paths. The Hebrew writer says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). Remember Jesus asked scribes what to them was no doubt a disconcerting question, “And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, ‘Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?’” (Matt. 9:4). And there were several other times that Jesus asked about the thoughts of men because He could see the heart (Luke 24:38, Luke 6:8, Luke 5:22). But God isn’t looking to punish us just because we may be tempted through our thoughts, He desires we understand that our thoughts will defile us if they aren’t controlled. Jesus said, “That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man” (Matt. 7:20-23). The thoughts of the heart through the conscience will accuse or excuse those in the OT times (Rom. 2:15).
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Thankfully like all areas of our life, we have spiritual help in this area too. Paul affirms we are not warring after the flesh but our warfare is with Satan and he sums up what we have, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:4-5). The knowledge we have about our thoughts can help us understand what God desires from us. Let’s humble ourselves so that God is in all our thoughts, and use the help He offers to shun the evil thoughts and be pure in heart.
—Matthew Johnson