One of the most healing, and freeing, statements of truth that I ever received in counseling was that my thoughts were my own. No person could control my thoughts, and no one could read them. This seems to parallel well the proverb that says that no one knows a heart’s sorrow or joy to the extent and precision than the person who feels it does.
When I was a child, a significant person who tried to be a god in my life told me that they knew my thoughts even better than I did myself and told me to think every thought through the filter of what this person would desire me to think. Certainly, as a child, you believe what adults say. And it stuck. If he could read my thoughts, so could someone else. I felt that nothing in me was my own. It was an intimidating thought for much of my childhood and teen years, but learning that it was not true freed me immensely. I was free to think my own thoughts! And I was in control of when and how I expressed them.
This concept has blown me away since then. And sobered me as well. For, with all freedom comes responsibility.
I was free. I was in control. But I was also responsible. Responsible to take every thought captive—in my relationship to God. To take every word captive—in my relationship with people.
Language fascinates me. In a linguistic class in grad school, I learned about how the brain can only develop when it has a language to process. Someone who grows up without a language (for whatever reason) will not have a fully developed brain-- will be, to some degree, mentally retarded. And yet, how many times, days, minutes, conversations, do I forget that my brain has so many words, concepts, ideas (through language) to choose from, and that I have control over this!
The calling to take every thought captive reminds me that I have the power (through the Holy Spirit) to do so! And as I think in my heart, so I speak!!
So, rather than lies and deception, despair, trouble-making and divisive words, do I speak (to myself and out loud) truth, love, with hope, and with words that give life and encouragement?
As I’ve learned that no one can read or control my thoughts, I’ve also discovered the more disappointing truth that I cannot read or control others’ thoughts. But this truth is freeing as well!
COMMUNICATION is soooooo important to me. I LOVE being free to say that I don’t know what someone is thinking unless they SAY it. I have found that guys tend to be a little more appreciative of this quality than girls (who tend to be a bit more intuitive to feelings and non-verbal communication and good at guessing thoughts). Nonetheless, I am determined to place a high value on WORDS, and assume that I don’t know what I haven’t been directly told. No assuming, projecting, or painting a picture with a slant.
Clarity, honesty, and sincerity, all show someone’s value of words. God Himself speaks with words of truth, love, and life. His Word spoke creation into being. Jesus Himself is the spoken Word of God!! And though I cannot be like my God in speaking things into existence, I can speak words of truth, and of the hope of a new heaven and earth, of my sanctification and of the working of all things together for good. Of the love available for all who come to Him. Of praise of the Savior who came to set all men free from death’s tight fingers and the lies that keep them captive.
Praise God!!! Praise Jesus!!!! For words, for His Word, for the Word Jesus Christ.
And let me, with great care, take care of these thoughts, these patterns, these influences I let in.
Let me remember: “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man” (Matthew 15:11).
Let me choose thoughts carefully, and that are: true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, praiseworthy (Phil. 4:8).
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer” (Ps. 19: 14).
And let me not try to be something I’m not, or “change” my words to manipulate others’ opinion of me. RATHER, let me change from the inside out. Let my heart freely admit where it is at. And let me be real before You and others.
But renew my mind Lord. Transform me. Impress Your WORD in me, “for the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).
And let me be careful of my influences. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom. 12:2) . . . that my mind will be TRANSFORMED and that I will know Your will!
And let my mind and words be filled with Your praise!
Praise Jesus! All glory to Jesus! My Great and Beautiful Savior.
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