"Truth is that which corresponds to reality as it is perceived by God" RC Sproul
I am a deep thinker. This causes me trouble if I dwell on the wrong things. It causes sleepless nights, anxiety and depression. My mind can think itself to exhaustion. My mind can instill fear that shouldn't be there. If my mind is controlled by my flesh, I am miserable. I am anxious. I am depressed. I am fearful. My thoughts in my mind are powerful. My mind can repeat the same negative thought over and over again and I feel as if I can't stop it. It might repeat a sin that Satan won't let me forget. It might be worrying and stress over something I have no control over. It might be lies from Satan that I have bought.
This used to be my life. Occasionally, it still is. However, I know that the flesh has no power over the Spirit of God. I am a Christian. I am saved. God chose me! Why he chose me, I have no idea because I have no good in me. It is all grace. This truth leads to humble worship. HE CHOSE ME!!! I know I don't deserve his grace. I deserve nothing but Hell. BUT GOD, BY HIS GRACE, snatched me out of hell. That also means he snatched Hell out of my mind and my spirit!!
God has given us a HELPER- and boy do we need help while living on this earth in our flesh!!!! He is the spirit of truth and we know him, for he dwells with us and in us (John 14:15-17)
Now why would I allow hell to lead my thoughts when I have the Spirit of God in me? Why would I allow this when I have the Word of God- not only in my hands, but dwelling in me?!!!!
Now back to my thinking- I like to think deeply in God's word. My husband can read the Bible and simply ingest it and move on to the next truth. This is great and nothing is wrong with that! But I want more- I want exceedingly more wisdom from God. I want all the wisdom that my small human brain can fathom. I want to pick apart every verse, every thought of God- not pick apart being critical, pick apart to uncover the deepness of God.
In 1 Corinthians 2:16 it says "WE HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST." Meaning, if you are a believer and you have the Holy Spirit, you have the mind of Christ. WOW. Our earthly mind cannot understand the things of God. Unbelievers think God's word is nonsense. That is what you will think if you are pure flesh. No one can understand without wisdom and truth from the Spirit. "The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (nonsense) to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned," 1 COR 2:14.
The Spirit of God COMPREHENDS the thoughts of God for us (1 COR 2:11). And that Spirit dwells in me!!!! We know the thoughts of God by reading the Bible- but the Spirit helps our mind understand the truth, interpret the truth, process the truth and speak the truth!!!! The Spirit grows our understanding from a child drinking milk to an adult eating meat! You don't need a degree in theology to get this wisdom. Read the Bible yourself- don't always depend on your pastor, etc, to tell you what it says. We must study it and understand it ourselves, through the Spirit, so we can discern truth.
The Spirit ILLUMINATES scripture- shines a bright light on it, lets us see it clearly with wide open eyes. He gives us more than just a cognitive understanding. He gives us a deep affection for God. Jonathan Edwards defined the spiritual light as an awakening in us for the excellencies of God. The Spirit gives us the delights of God, the loveliness of God, the affections of God, the love of God. It reaches down in our heart to transform it. This is not new information He is giving, this is KNOWING God, this is building the personal relationship with the God we cherish. It goes beyond simply head knowledge and pierces the soul, awakens it with joy!!!
God has given you his SPIRIT. Use it. Don't look to flesh to think deeper, look to the Spirit. Don't look to the flesh to awaken your love for God, look to the Spirit. Don't always expect someone else to teach you, you have THE teacher with you. Use this to discern. We MUST know the truth to speak the truth and recognize the truth. In our world today, more than ever, we need the truth. Don't take the Spirit for granted. He is THERE- look to Him that dwells inside instead of searching outside for truth.
You have the author of truth dwelling inside of you.
Let that sink in.
"Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, that we might understand the things freely given to us by God" 1 COR 2:12
