Think Like God (Part 1)
[ Preached by Pastor Kenneth Chin at Acts Church Malaysia on 8 September 2019 ]
God wants us to think, just like Him.
How can one think like God? Doesn’t it say in Isaiah 55:8-9 that His thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are our ways His ways?
Our good Father is merely stating a fact in Isaiah – that His thoughts are higher than ours. It’s like how a dad may tell his young child, “Listen to me, because I’m wiser than you”, but harbour hopes that his child would one day match – or even surpass – him when it comes to wisdom.
One would then ask, what does God think about? I believe the answer can be found in this well-known verse in Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Today, we will explore many ways on how we can hone our thinking and align it to God’s.
1. Everything begins with a thought
Every action that we perform – first came into being in our minds. I would say that every outcome is also determined by our thoughts! If all we think about is victory, all our actions will be focused on achieving that victory. We know that God’s thoughts are about “peace and a future and hope” – and we know His subsequent actions will always follow those thoughts.
In that vein, can we afford to allow our thoughts to be anything but the above? Admittedly, it’s not easy – life is a series of difficult challenges and circumstances, after all – but now that we understand the influence our minds have, we as Christians should aim to hone it towards all that’s good and holy.
2. After the thought comes meditation
Read | Psalms 19:14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Your sight, oh Lord.
What is meditation? Put simply, it’s one thought repeated over and over again. And as the Word points out, meditation happens within us, unseen and unheard in our hearts – not just as a physical act, as most would think.
This is why it matters that we pay close attention to our thoughts throughout the day. Allow negative thoughts to run rampant, and that’s all you will meditate on, that’s all you will become. If we discover that our kaleidoscope of thoughts only displays shades of fear, darkness and uncertainty, then we know with confidence that those aren’t meditations that are acceptable to God. What is acceptable? Love, peace and hope!
3. Words come after the thought
Imagine our hearts to be like a cup, one that gets filled by the daily occurrences and experiences in our lives. What we fill in influences our thinking, and subsequently, the words that come out of our mouths.
That’s why I have come to believe that the statement “I spoke without thinking” isn’t true anymore. When people blurt out sharp words, hurtful retorts or defensive statements, it can be easy to discern the emotions that are overflowing from their hearts – and thoughts. Cheers to people who can be thankful or hopeful for the many blessings in their lives.
Read | Proverbs 23:7a
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
What we allow to fill our hearts ultimately fills our minds, which in the end reveals itself in the words that we speak. To ensure your thinking is aligned with God’s, watch what is allowed into your heart – and what you say to the people around you.
4. Watch what you conform to
Read | Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to 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.
All of us know this verse, but how many of us have successfully practised it? The world today is shaped by people who think differently from everyone else – the Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Warren Buffets of the world. We call them “disruptors” who weren’t influenced by the status quo; they turned things on their heads and transformed the way we looked at technology, money, design, and even philosophy.
The world is often a pale imitator of the Creator. God has called us not to conform to our surroundings, but to be transformed by renewing our minds – to think differently. There shouldn’t be any more doubt that God wants us to think like Him.
The only question that remains is why. As Christians, why is it important that we think like our Creator instead of the world? The answer can be found at the end of that same verse from Romans: that we may prove the “good and acceptable and perfect will of God”.
We were called to be the “salt and light” of the world – and that’s only possible if we begin thinking like our Father, who sent His Son to bear the sins of the world. To think thoughts of peace and hope and a future not just for ourselves, but also for the people around us. Only then can our hearts overflow with the right things, and allow us to be a blessing wherever we are placed or wherever we go.
#decadeoflegacy2030
Written by Victor Lau
