For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. – Isaiah 55:8
Have you ever been faced with a problem or challenge that has required you to “think outside the box,”— something that may not have seemed logical or reasonable at first, but which ultimately provided the solution? The average person has roughly ten thousand thoughts a day. That is three and a half million a year. Along the way, you may have had a really great thought, and it may have originated “outside the box.“
Where do your thoughts originate? Psychologists would tell you they come from nowhere and they come from everywhere. They just pop into your head, or they may emerge from sources outside yourself that influence your mind.
Based on today’s verse, you must recognize that your thoughts can be far from God’s thoughts. He calls you to renew your mind (Romans 12:2), avoid futile thinking (Ephesians 4:17), and “take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). You begin by being aware of and managing what you are thinking, even those “pop-up” thoughts that seemingly come from nowhere. You make intentional choices about what influences you, partnering with God to sow His word into your soul and spirit. And you follow the mandate of Philippians 4:8 for your thought menu.
Ask the Lord to help you if you have unhealthy thought patterns and habits. Intercede for the men and women whose mindsets and ideologies are in opposition to the Lord, particularly those who educate America’s children.
Today’s Verse: Isaiah 55:8
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: 1 Chronicles 29:10-15
10 Therefore David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. 11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. 12 Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. 13 And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.
14 “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. 15 For we are strangers before you and sojourners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
