Worship: Loving God with All My Mind

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true…think on these things. Philippians 4:8

Who has walked through the valley of depression without learning a few lessons about how thoughts and emotions intertwine? Anxiety, panic attacks, and highly stressful situations can also teach us a similar lesson. It may seem like emotions are in the driver’s seat, and we sometimes have no control over our destination. Fortunately, the Word of God tells us otherwise. Our emotions do not have to be the chauffeur to realms unknown. Our mind can reroute our emotions so that we arrive at our intended destination: to glorify God and enjoy the promises of His blessings.

This visual helps explain how thoughts and emotions work.

What we think about will become a belief. What we believe will engage our emotions. Our emotions will lead us to action, which often leads to more thoughts, recycling the process anew.

Let’s think about this in a practical application when a person is driving. Driving seems to bring out the worst of human emotions and behavior. Someone pulls into your lane with no blinker and no warning, nearly sideswiping you. Your first thought is, “How dare you cut me off!” Your belief in how it is your lane, and the other driver has no right to it probably leads to anger, which then leads to a long and loud honk, and could lead to more dangerous actions if both drivers allow their emotions to engage them in road rage. This process took mere seconds, and not a lot of time was given to thinking.

If, however, your initial thoughts were that the person did not see you, your belief might be that people often make mistakes when driving. This belief leads your emotions toward empathy and understanding, which causes you to hit your brakes and wave the person over. No dangerous driving ensues, and both people go on their way: one, hopefully recognizing their need to be more careful, and the other driving even more defensively than before.

Note how the initial thoughts and beliefs led to two different outcomes. Where did the second, more patient response come from? It probably came from maturity and years of driving experience. In other words, it was a learned and intentional response.

Paul told the Corinthian church members that when they placed their faith in Christ, they received the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16) However, in the next chapter, he goes on to tell them that they were not engaging Christ’s mind, and instead, were exercising their carnal or pre-salvation minds. The natural state of human thinking tends toward self-centeredness and self-preservation. There are a few lists in Scripture that point out exactly what carnal thinking looks like.

I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. ³ For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 1 Corinthians 3:2-3

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, ¹⁸ Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: ¹⁹ Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
²⁰ But ye have not so learned Christ; ²¹ If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: ²² That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; ²³ And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; ²⁴ And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:17-24

For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. ⁴ But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, ⁵ Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; ⁶ Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; ⁷ That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:3-7

For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: ⁴ Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: ⁵ Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 1 Peter 4:3-5

These lists all point toward envy, strife, hatred, overindulgence, and idolatry. What about more prominent emotions that we deal with every day like anxiety or depression? How do these relate to our initial thoughts? Are the thoughts that lead to these emotions able to be rerouted?

Paul evidently believed so, since he wrote Philippians 4 from prison.

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
⁵ Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
⁶ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. ⁸ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. ⁹ Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Philippians 4:4-9

Paul gave believers the command to “Rejoice always and to be careful or anxious for nothing.” This is not a suggestion. It is not a great idea if you choose to follow through with it. No, it is a command because we must be intentional with how we think. Our natural thinking will gladly continue its circular route through our minds unless we intentionally think on what God’s Word says is true.

Those who often experience unstable emotions struggle with these commands. (Ask me how I know!!!) They might question how they can believe something when they do not feel like it is true.

“I don’t feel God’s presence in my life.” “I don’t feel His joy or His strength.” I don’t feel like I am saved.” “I don’t feel like God is enough to meet my every need.” Every single one of these statements is based on an emotion and not the truth.

If, however, a person chooses to think on what God says is true, rather than what they feel, truth blooms into belief, and belief bears fruit with emotional stability and right actions. Right thinking will always lead to glorifying God.

⁴⁵ A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. Luke 6:45

This is already a very long post, but there is so much more to say when it comes to engaging our thinking in truth rather than “what if, if only, and why me?”.  Choosing to think truth will require us to abandon our imaginations of how we think things should be and intentionally yield to God’s sovereignty and care over everything that touches our lives. Often, our lack of trust in God stems from a lack of knowledge in His character and His track record. Where do we find that? In the Word.

For more study, I highly recommend Elizabeth George’s Bible study, “Loving God with All Your Mind.” It has been a tremendous blessing to me. I pray that this is helpful, and as always, I am praying for every person who happens across this post. Have a blessed weekend, my friends.

Erica B.