Words from the Lord:
"Teach My people to think of good things. Whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of good report, think of these things."
Further words from the Lord:
"Your thoughts determine the amount of light around you in the spiritual realm. The more you think good thoughts, the more light emanates in and around you."
By the way, the word 'emanate' means 'to emit or to release and flow out (in and around you)'. So today, I'm going to show you the importance of your thought life, and how it correlates to the light in the spiritual realm around you.
Of course whatever is being taught here, it has to be backed up with the Scripture. So, I'm going to show you and prove to you from the Scripture as well.
But before that, in Philippians 4:8-9, apostle Paul wrote, 'Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, this do and the God of peace will be with you.'
The word 'meditate' (or 'think' in King James Version) here is 'logizomai' in Greek. It can speak of any of these:
- the mental faculty of a person (i.e. the mind realm)
- the reasoning with the mind of a person
- the thought life of a person
- making conclusion (that it is true about something)
In other words, once you have concluded that that is the right thing to do, you begin to channel your thoughts, you begin to channel your mind, on that something or on that truth. And that's what 'meditate' is about.
Now, why did apostle Paul emphasize so much on meditation life, on thought life, on thinking the right thoughts?
Because in the spiritual realm, thoughts are so important. In the spiritual realm, thoughts will determine the light that emanates around you. In fact, in the spiritual realm, your thoughts will be known or 'caught' by others as well, unlike in the physical realm where you can hide your thoughts (i.e. you may think of something inside of you, but you can portray a different facade to other people).
You may be asking how do I know all these? The Lord caused me to see all these in the spiritual realm, and I have Bible verses to show you and prove to you.
Jesus Himself said in Luke 8:17 (NKJV), "For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light."
It means nothing hidden that will not be revealed.
Luke 8:17 (NIV) puts it this way, "For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open."
Now this applies in the spiritual realm. Everything will be exposed. Our thoughts, whether good thoughts or bad thoughts will be exposed, will be known, unlike in this physical world where we can hide our thoughts. In the physical realm, we can say something that may not be what we actually think of. But in the spiritual realm, we cannot hide that. We cannot put up a facade.
That's why, people of God, always think good thoughts. Don't always think bad thoughts about yourself or even about others, as this will only cause more harm to yourself.
Just as in the physical realm, rubbish attract flies, and flowers attract butterflies; in the spiritual realm, bad thoughts attract the work of darkness, and good thoughts attract the work of light or the work of angels (who minister around you and for you).
In the spiritual realm, good thoughts attract more light, but bad thoughts cause your light to be dimmer in and around you.
The same with different stars in the galaxy. Do you realize some stars shine brighter and some stars dimmer? Each of us in the spiritual realm is like a star. Some stars shine brighter and some stars dimmer. Why is that so? It has to do with one's thought life, i.e. what are the things that always fill one's mind? In other words, if you think good thoughts, you are like the star that shines brighter and brighter in the spiritual realm!
That is why the Bible prepares us to think good thoughts and take care of our thought life even here on earth! Because you are not just living in the physical realm while on earth, but you are living in the spiritual realm here on earth too!
Here are the examples of Bible verses about thought life:
Colossians 3:1-2 (NKJV) says, 'If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.'
Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV) says, 'You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.'
Romans 8:5-6 (NKJV) says, 'For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.'
In other words, if your mind is being renewed and you are spiritually minded, that's how you will have life and peace on earth. But if you always give in to your flesh, give in to your carnality, give in to lust, greed and pride, you think greedy thoughts, you think lustful thoughts, you think prideful thoughts, all these kinds of fleshly thoughts, it is going to lead you to death and it is going to bring you nowhere.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV) says, 'And do not be conformed to this world (or to the pattern of this world), but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.'
2 Corinthians 10:5 (NKJV) says, 'Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.'
In other words, if there's anything that contradicts God and the knowledge of God, you cast them down. Do not entertain all those arguments against God and the knowledge of God. But instead, bring every thought of yours to focus on Christ, the obedience of Christ, and on all that Christ has done for you on the cross.
Also, it is important to guard your thoughts. If your heart is the door to the spiritual realm, then your mind or your thought is the window to the spiritual realm. It's just like if you live in a house, you guard not just your door from thieves or burglars, but you guard your window as well. Because thieves and burglars don't just try to enter through the door, but they may even try to enter through the window. So guard both your door (that's your heart) and your window (that's your mind or your thought).
Now this is interesting. Jesus Himself said this in Matthew 6:22-23. I read from New King James Version (NKJV) first. "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!"
Now over here, Jesus tells us that either our eye is directed at heavenly things and therefore full of light, or it is directed at earthly or carnal (or fleshly things), therefore full of darkness. So there's a contrast here. One leads to 'full of light', and one leads to 'full of darkness'. It depends on the eye, whether the eye is good or the eye is bad.
By the way, the word 'eye' here is 'ophthalmos' in Greek, and it can be defined as 'the way you see something, the way you gaze into something, the way you understand something'.
Now I read from King James Version (KJV) for the same verses. "The light of the body is the eye. If therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!"
Now this is interesting. Why the word 'single' here? Why is it translated as 'eye be single' for 'eye be good' here? It means being single-minded on God! It means to focus your thoughts or your minds on good and godly things! Now that's what being single-minded means! It means to concentrate and to focus, concentrating only on one aim. And what is the aim here? On God's things! Do you see the correlation here? If the eye is good (single), then you will be full of light! It means you are single-minded, concentrating and focusing on God and God's things! And that's how you are full of light! You will also be happier and more content when you focus on the kingdom of God and His righteousness, knowing that all the good things, the material things, will be added unto you! (Matthew 6:33)
But in contrast, when you are double-minded, it's as if your whole body is full of darkness. That's what Jesus meant here. In other words, when a person tries to live for two masters, serving or entertaining two masters - one is God, one is mammon - all at the same time, it puts a dark shadow over a person!
Proof? Just one verse later in Matthew 6:24, Jesus said this, "No one can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."
By the way, 'mammon' here means the material things, money, or the riches of this world. Now, this doesn't mean that you cannot prosper. God's will is for you to prosper in your soul, in your health, and even in material things, so that you can use all these to glorify God. Nothing wrong with God prospering you. But what Jesus meant here is when you begin to love money more than God, when money has a hold on you, that's how you will be full of darkness. You see, the Bible says 'the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil' (1 Timothy 6:10). But that doesn't mean money is evil. Money is just a medium of exchange. So let's know the difference here.
In 2 Corinthians 11:3 (NKJV), apostle Paul wrote, 'But I fear, lest somehow as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity (purity) that is in Christ.'
Here, apostle Paul meant a person's mind can be corrupted by the devil or forces of darkness, if that person isn't careful or if that person begins to entertain (or open the mind to) wrong influences, just as what happened to Eve.
So, let not your minds be corrupted or deceived by the things or lures of this world, by all that the forces of darkness, the devil try to brainwash you. But instead, you set your minds on the things of God, on the simplicity (purity) of who Christ is.
How about God's thoughts for you?
Now, this is a very familiar verse. In Jeremiah 29:11, God says, "For I know the thoughts that I think towards you," says the Lord, "thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Hallelujah!
As you align your thoughts with God's thoughts for you, that's how you are going to see your God-given destiny being fulfilled, and you are going to accomplish all that God has planned for you on this earth. Therefore, beloved of God, be set free from the thought that you are no good. Be set free from the thought that you are a failure. Be set free from the thought that you are forever not up to it, or not up to what God wants you to be. But instead, commit your life and your work to the Lord.
Proverbs 16:3 (NKJV) says, 'Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established (by the Lord).'
The word 'commit' here is 'galal' in Hebrew. In this context, it means 'align your works to the Lord, dedicate your works to the Lord, entrust your works to the Lord, or roll it all unto the Lord'. So, even as you commit your life, you dedicate your life, you surrender, align, entrust your whole life to the Lord, your future to the Lord, and roll it all unto the Lord, He will know how to establish your thoughts and He will know how to teach you step by step. He will know how to put His thoughts into your thoughts.
After all, His thoughts are always higher than our thoughts, and His ways are always higher than our ways. In Isaiah 55:8-9, the Lord says, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."
Then in Isaiah 55:10-11, the Lord says, "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."
See, as you align your thoughts to His thoughts regarding your life, you are going to walk in that prosperity that God has meant for you.
And in Isaiah 55:12-13, the Lord says, "For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace. The mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree. And it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."
So you see, these are His promises for you, the results and the fruits of you aligning your thoughts to God's thoughts. Isn't that wonderful? Isn't that awesome? When you commit your thoughts before the Lord, commit your life before the Lord, aligning your thoughts to His thoughts, and surrender your thoughts to be renewed by Him, not only will you have the light emanating from you, not only will you attract the light, but you are also going to have the joy and peace of the Lord in your life, just as the Lord has said in Isaiah 55. Hallelujah!
