It has been said, by various people in various ways, that what you think about is what you are and what you become.
That quote, or variations of it, has been attributed to many people in many ways. From Buddha to Earl Nightingale, people have long recognized that our thought life shapes us, changes us, even defines us over time.
The apostle Paul cautioned and encouraged the Philippians in his letter to them: (4:8)
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (NIV)
A wholesome and healthy thought life is essential to human beings.
Jesus, when teaching about the concept that certain foods defile a person, said in Mark 7: 21-23:
For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” (NIV)
The Greek word used in that passage for “thoughts” is διαλογισμοὶ (dialogismoi). Yes, that is the word from which we get, “dialogue.” It’s through our internal dialogue that we can talk ourselves into all sorts of sin and error. As a reformed alcoholic and drug addict of 38 years, I can assure you that prior to the truth of Jesus in my life, it was shocking, even horrifying to learn that I had been lying to myself for years. I truly and genuinely believed that I did not have a problem. I even believed, to some degree, that I was right and the rest of the world was wrong. The world just didn’t understand me.
I was wrong.
And that is why the enemy of our souls is –above all else– a liar.
Jesus, in accusing the Pharisees of being of the devil, says in John 8:44:
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (NLT)
Lies are indeed the native language of the devil. He would like nothing more than for us, for all people, to believe that we are not loved because he knows that human beings have a need to be loved more precious, more vital, than even the need for food, water, shelter, and clothing.
Numerous studies have found that children raised in an environment without love will live lives of anxiety and avoidance, they will lack emotional intelligence, be unable to create of sustain meaningful relationships, have difficulty dealing with conflict, be unable to self-regulate, they will likely have trust issues, choose relationships with people who are toxic to them, be dominated by feelings of isolation, experience extreme sensitivity or withdraw and become insensitive, and be far more likely to suffer from anxiety disorders, depression, disassociative symptoms, phobias, PTSD, and substance abuse.
Our society has wandered farther and farther away from Christian concepts and Christian love. The very foundations of this nation rested on the concept of imago dei –that all human beings are created in the image of God and as such we are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights: the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of spiritual fulfilment (or “happiness” as it was called at the time that phrase was written.) The Founders believed these concepts to be self-evident and indisputable–and they said so in open defiance of a tyrant king at the risk of their own lives and the lives of their families.
This is a crucial concept because, if we are all created in the image of God, then all human life is sacred. In atheism, life came from nothing and if we all evolved from some primordial ooze by some freak happy accident, then human life is no better than the life of an amoeba or an Ebola virus. If we came from nothing and end in nothing, then logically, nihilism is true and beauty, goodness, and human life is meaningless.
The glorious news is that people who grew up feeling unloved –or even those that believe love is not real– can be healed by being exposed to the pure and genuine love of Jesus Christ. I’ve seen it happen and it is absolutely amazing, wondrous, and glorious. Yes, there are scars and there will always be those scars, but they can live joyous, rewarding, fulfilling lives.
And so can our nation.
There is no limit or boundary to what God can do through His love as given to us in His Son, Jesus Christ. Kinship Radio and every other ministry that stands on the truth of that love is part of the healing available through the power of that love.
You are part of that plan.
Today’s Praise
Ephesian 3:18-21
And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.