Thoughts

I have a lot of them.   Chances are, you do to.  Some of them are good.  Holy even.  Some of them are hilarious.  Some of them should never be spoken out loud.  Some of them are downright scary.

Thoughts are the reason I started this blog.  I'm not so good at talking.  For whatever reason writing comes much more naturally to me.  Maybe it's because I can stop and think before each sentence.  Maybe it's because I can delete something that doesn't sound the way I intended it to.  But writing is always therapeutic for me.  My writing often takes me down surprising paths.  Like, whoa, hello!  I didn't know I was feeling that.

This morning our worship team led us in songs focused on repentance.  The comment was made that we don't often focus our prayers or worship on repentance.  We focus on thanksgiving.  We focus on our requests.  We focus on our requests for others.  

And those are good.  

I am positive that Jesus delights in our thanksgiving.   Philippians 4 tells us to rejoice in the Lord always.  It's good advice.  I know I mention Ann Voskamp often.  But her book "One Thousand Gifts" resonated with my soul so deeply.  She uses this lovely Greek word "Eucharisteo".  Go ahead, say it out loud.  

The definition is simply this "to be grateful".  Isn't that how the people of God should be marked?  By our thanksgiving?  It's amazing what happens to your outlook when you start looking for the gifts in each day instead of focusing on what's going wrong.  Please hear my heart, I don't want to downplay anyone's struggle.  There are so many heartbreaking things that happen every day.  But I very firmly believe that every day is also full of gifts.  Ask Jesus to open your eyes to them.  And then grab a friend and text them three things you are thankful for each day.  It keeps you looking for the beautiful plus it's fun to see how the Lord blesses your friend.

I am also positive that Jesus wants to hear the requests we make on our own behalf and on the behalf of our friends and families.  And even enemies.  Matthew 7 says ask and it will be given to you.  Philippians 4 says to present our requests to God with thanksgiving.  Matthew 5 tells us to pray for our enemies.  

But back to repentance.  Romans 3 has this to say on our sorry state.  

"There is no one righteous, not even one."

"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

That's pretty gloomy.  And if that's all there was, there'd be no hope.  Hang on, though, I know this other verse:

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

And this:

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

We sang a song called "Man of Sorrows" this morning.  You can listen to it here.  While we were singing I felt the crushing weight of my sin.  You might look at my life and say, "Well, you seem to be doing pretty good!  You're a good person!"  This is the part where we come back to thoughts.  You don't see what goes on in my head.  There are a lot of thoughts that enter and leave right away.  But then there are the things I choose to dwell on.

Jesus says this interesting thing in Matthew 5.  "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgement.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment." And also this: "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

I think what Jesus is saying is that our thoughts matter.  Because our thoughts become our words, our actions.   "For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." 

Ouch.

2 Corinthians 10:5 says "we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."  I'm not exactly sure what this is supposed to look like.  If you have a great insight, I'd love to hear it!  This verse always makes me think of another set of verses.  Back to Philippians 4 (so much good stuff in there!):  "Finally, brothers, 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."

When I have a thought that is not holy and I'm tempted to dwell on it I say this verse to myself.  And I always see the same image in my minds eye.  I'm in a meadow of wildflowers and I'm wearing a pretty dress.  The sky is brilliantly blue with fluffy clouds.  Jesus meets me.  And then we dance.  Sunshine, birdsong, amazing color, and my Jesus holding me.

True.  Noble.  Right.  Pure.  Lovely.  Admirable.  Excellent.  Praiseworthy.

Jesus wants to rescue us from the crushing weight of our sin.

All it takes is our willingness to say "Hey, Jesus?  I messed up and I'm so sorry.  Will you forgive me?"

"Man of sorrows, Lamb of God

By His own betrayed

The sin of man and wrath of God

has been on Jesus laid

Silent as He stood accused

Beaten mocked and scorned

Bowing to the Father's will

He took a crown of thorns

Oh that rugged cross my salvation 

Where your love poured out over me

Now my soul cries out Hallelujah

Praise and honor unto Thee

Sent of heaven God's own Son

To purchase and redeem

And reconcile the very ones

Who nailed Him to that tree

Now my debt is paid 

It is paid in full

By the precious blood 

That my Jesus spilled

Now the curse of sin

Has no hold on me

Whom the Son sets free 

Oh is free indeed

See the stone is rolled away

Behold the empty tomb

Hallelujah God be praised

He's risen from the grave"