If You Do ... part 3

If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten. One of the Proverbs tells us that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he (see Proverbs 23:7).  Ummh, so what are you thinking?  What are your thoughts?  Did you know that only good thoughts can produce good fruit, and only bad thoughts can produce bad fruit?  Old maxim -- a tree is known by the fruit it bears.  Your every thought is reflected through the words that you speak and the actions you take.  Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results; bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results. Scripture commands that we take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ (see 2 Corinthians 10:5).  Does God really mean every one of our thoughts? 

Yes he does! He also tells us what kind of thoughts to think.  See Philippians 4:8.  "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." 

Concerning your thoughts, ask yourself -- is this thought true? Is it noble and honest and honorable? Is it right and just? Is it pure?  Is it lovely? Is it admirable or of a good report?  Is it excellent or praiseworthy? What would the disciple Ananias have been thinking as the Lord told him in a vision to go lay his hands on Saul who at the time had been a great persecutor of the Christians? What would Saul have been thinking as the Lord let him know how much he would suffer for His name?  What would the young virgin Mary have been thinking when the angel Gabriel told her that she would give birth to a child? If you were in either of those shoes, what would your thoughts have been?  Would your thoughts line up with the Word of God?

Remember: If you do [think] what you've always done [thought], you'll get what you've always gotten.