Christian Writers Circle

Holy Thinking
By Brenda D Flowers

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:17, NLT)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God— this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2, NIV)

Have you ever experienced a battle in your mind, a time when you were struggling to enter into God’s rest and peace?

Although I have been a Christian for almost fifty years, I still have times when I have thoughts I know are not in line with God’s will, often these are worry or fearful thoughts. Other times, I experience unrest knowing God is trying to get my attention. 

Sometimes, I wake up in the middle of the night, unable to get back to sleep. This happened to me a few weeks ago. 

The next day, I thought about my restless night and recorded this experience in my prayer journal. As I took my thoughts to God in prayer, I thought about how Jesus often got up in the dark to spend time with His Father in prayer. He modeled what to do. 

When I was younger in my faith, I often allowed negative unholy thoughts to overcome me. But as I have matured in my faith, I now stand on the promises of God and the truth that I live and move and have my being in Christ. Holy Spirit helps me to be an overcomer. 

I believe I have the mind of Christ. I am not who I once was. God is at work in me by His Spirit and I can have His holy thinking. 

Here are promises I stand on: 

Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. (Psalm 62:1, NIV) 

The LORD is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1, NIV)

I realize I have a choice to: 

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Col 3:2, NKJV) 

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. (Phil. 4: 8, NIV)

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (1 Peter:  6-7, NKJV)

If I am feeling continued unrest, I intentionally ask God to help me to know what He is saying to me. Sometimes, He has awakened me to intercede for other people. At times, He wants me to be still and allow Him to search my heart and cleanse me. Or He may just want to spend time in fellowship with me in the stillness of the night. 

 Holy Spirit is my Comforter and Constant Companion, God’s gift to me to help me know God’s will and think Holy thoughts. 

Praise the Lord! 

Let’s join our hearts in faith and worship as we trust that Jesus Christ sent Holy Spirit to us as a gift so we may truly know the will of God and can be victorious in our thinking.