Whatever Is True
The United Negro College Fund has had the slogan “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” for as long as I can remember. It is indeed a terrible thing to waste because what we think determines what we do. God is also concerned that we not waste our minds and our lives as a result.
What determines whether or not we are wasting our minds? It is determined by what we think. What then should we think? God says we should think on true things. (Phil. 4:8)
True things are factually accurate and based in reality. Anything that originates from God and the bible can be trusted as true. It is the Holy Spirit’s job to reveal these true things to us. Jesus said, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” (John 16:13) John, also referring to the Holy Spirit, wrote “But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything—and is true and is no lie, just as it has taught you—abide in him.” (1 John 2:27)
Thinking true things also means not thinking false things. False things are factually inaccurate and usually deceptive. Anything that originates in the world should be suspected as being false because Satan is the ruler of this world system. He is a liar and the father of lies. In his first conversation with a person, he lied to Eve and convinced her it was true. As a result of her false thinking Eve brought death on herself and every other person born into this world. We must be careful because lies are always presented as being true.
In order to change our thinking, we need to make an honest and objective assessment of what we normally think about. To do this, make a list of the things that occupy your mind regularly. With the help of the Holy Spirit and the bible, determine whether those things are true or false? Then purposefully stop thinking false thoughts by replacing them with true thoughts. The best way to fill our mind with true thoughts is to spend time every day reading, studying or memorizing the bible.
* See also Think On These Things.
