Intentional Thinking

“Thou my best thought,
by day or by night.
Waking or sleeping,
thy presence my light.”
 (Be Thou My Vision by Dallan Forgaill)

There’s a new podcast by NPR called “Invisibilia” focusing on the invisible things that all humans experience which drive our lives. My interest was piqued to find out exactly what forces the show might even be about. I just finished the first episode, which centered around thoughts.

Stop me if I’m getting too complicated here, but even thinking about your thoughts can be a daunting task. It’s definitely not a subject I would expect to find on a mommy blog. Moms pour so much of themselves into the everyday responsibilities that sustain their households, that I’m sure asking you to explore your own mind may seem like I’m crossing some sort of line. I know you’re both physically and mentally exhausted, but I’m going to ask you to stick with me.

Besides, I really think this process of sorting through all the thoughts you have on a regular basis and making the effort to insert better thoughts into your day is just what a mommy needs. While chasing my 15 month old around our apartment, trying to keep her from eating electronic devices, I find a very tired desperation in my mind for something a little less elementary.  There must be more to my thoughts than “What is Emi into now?” or “Did I turn the dryer on?”

There is something more. Let me offer you a little meat to sink your mental teeth into.

One of the stories told in the first episode of “Invisibilia” is about a man struggling with violent thoughts like murder, rape, or images of maimed people and animals. He thinks these violent thoughts so much that he is afraid he’s going to harm someone.

This is one of those things you hear about that you’re afraid to admit you can relate to, like peeing a little when you sneeze. I’m confident in saying that you can all relate to this man, though, because it’s human nature. We are a depraved race, every last one of us.

“As it is written:
‘None is righteous, no, not one.
no one understands;
no one seeks for God.’”
Romans 3:10&11

Ouch. That stings a little. Okay, maybe it stings a lot. The pain, though, doesn’t make it any less true. When our minds are left to wander they go to dark, sinful places.

Like many women, I know the secret cave my mind spends most of its time in is the one that houses all of my insecurities.

I’m fat. I’m a terrible mother. My husband doesn’t even like me. Why would anyone want to spend any amount of time with me?

I,I,I… Me, me, me…

All of these negative thoughts are focused around me, an individual who, on her own, has no righteousness. This self-deprecating, self-centered string of thoughts is sinful for many reasons, but I want to emphasize that it is sinful because it attempts to prey on the image God has given me based on Himself (Genesis 1:27, Psalm 139:14) which is good.

The part of me that always wants to justify my sins argues that my thoughts can’t be sinful because they are not intentional. It’s not fair to hold me accountable for something that I can’t help.

God has an answer to that argument.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.  For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.  We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-6

Also:

“Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,  who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house.  For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.” Hebrews 3:1-3

God’s answer is that our thoughts can be helped. He offers that help. He calls us to take control of our thoughts and aim them toward Him. When our thoughts are on God, they are not on ourselves or on the world.

In Psalm 1, the psalmist writes about the joy of thinking about God. He writes that this meditation nourishes us like water feeds a tree. God kills the wickedness running through our heads because He is the exact opposite of our innate corruption.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17

It seems sort of obvious, doesn’t it? When I’m inundated with terrible thoughts, I should turn to God. I think the problem lies in this belief that our thoughts are unintentional, like we are prisoners to our minds. In this case, a little awareness goes a long way. This Biblical evidence leads me to believe that my thoughts not only can be controlled, but are meant to be good and intentional.

I know that it might seem a little hopeless to try and reel in your sinful mind. For that, I want to remind you that God does not call us to anything that He has not given us the strength for. We don’t have to rely on our own weak-willed, feeble strength any longer. When Christ dwells within us, we are given His strength.

“ No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

He has sent you the way out of those hounding thoughts: consider Christ Jesus. All that He is. All that He does. In Him we find perfect peace of mind.

“You keep him in perfect peace
    whose mind is stayed on you,
    because he trusts in you.”
Isaiah 26:3