Genesis 26:7
And the men of the place asked about his wife. And he said, “She is my sister”; for he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” because he thought, “lest the men of the place kill me for Rebekah, because she is beautiful to behold.”
INSIGHT
-Thought is written as machashabah in Hebrew & it means to plan, scheme, comprehend, intend, contemplate, meditate or recollect. It also means to have a conscious mind or an extent of reasoning, remember past experiences & make rational decisions. It requires one to employ his/her mind rationally & objectively in evaluating or dealing with a given situation so as achieve set objectives.
-Isaac just like Abraham lied to Abimelech in Gerar that the wife was his sister on account of fear for his life (Gen 20:12). Drought brought about their migration in search for food & pasture in the city of Gerar. God promised to bless Abraham & his descendants, which He faithfully executed despite their fears. Sometimes we also doubt or forget Gods’ promises at the wake of threats like diseases, economic turmoil, financial constraints, political instability, social pressure, marital & family challenges etc. Our thoughts are filled with fear & anxiety, & we worry that calamity might befall us or a promise may never come to pass. At times it is a test of faith & other times; challenges that we face in life. We are reminded not to fear 365 times in the Bible just the number of days in a year, to show the importance of having faith in God. We therefore have confidence in Gods’ protection for nothing can separate us from His love, as He is our faithful Father in Whom we put all our trust & rest secure.
PRAYER
We thank You Abba Father, for everything You have done, everything You are doing & everything You will do unto us. We submit our hearts & thoughts to You that You may establish us in Your love & protection. You have not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love & sound mind, that we may remain stable in words & deeds. Help us to have firm faith in You Father, that we may overcome all challenges in life & access ultimate peace & blessings. Amen
Jeremiah 29:11-13
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
INSIGHT
-God knew us before the foundation of the earth & has made plans for our prosperity. He has promised us a better future full of hope that we place our trust in Him, & dedicate our plans, needs & focus on Him alone. We could be having our own plans but ultimately; Gods’ purpose will stand for He establishes that which He has thought & planned for us (Isa 14:24). He has also promised to satisfy us with long life, answer our prayer, deliver us from all evil & show us His salvation; when we put our trust in Him (Psa 91:15-16).
PRAYER
Lord our Father, Your presence is all we long for every day, draw us closer to You with Your loving arms. We have many plans Lord, hear our prayers & direct us in Your purpose. You are our Sovereign Sustainer, in Whom we put all our trust. Answer our petitions Father, deliver us from all evil, restore unto us the joy of Your salvation & satisfy us with long life full of peace. Be with our president that he may have special interest in the people & lead the nation with Your truth. We thank You, we praise You & honour You for all You have done for us, & for Your everlasting mercy & grace upon us, upon our families, & upon our nation. Amen
1 Corinthians 3:19-20
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”
INSIGHT
-The thoughts of the wisest men in the world who are not submitted to God are vanity for they develop pride & self deceit in their hearts. In Isa 55:8-9, the Lord says “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”. The wisdom of the God is Supreme for He trains our thoughts when we humble ourselves. In mercy, He renews our minds that His grace may always abide in our hearts.
PRAYER
You are worthy of all glory & wisdom, our Lord & King, we praise You. We humbly submit our thoughts & hearts unto You that You establish us in Your wisdom. Cleanse us from all unrighteousness & renew Your steadfast Spirit within us. Have mercy on us & on all the world. Amen
Luke 2:34-35
Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
INSIGHT
-Simeon’s narrative of blessing to Mary mother of Jesus was timely & served as witness for that which had been spoken by prophet Isaiah (Isa 8:14-15). The Child destined for the fall & rising is a tripartite statement which could mean, Christs’ death & resurrection, a predestination of His rejection by the bulwark of Israelites & acceptance after resurrection; & finally He is a place of solace for those who fall so that they may be strengthened in Him. The sword as described having the ability to pierce through the soul & discern the thoughts of man is the word which became flesh & dwelt among us. This is echoed in Heb 4:12, “the word of God is living & powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts & intents of the heart”. The Word of God therefore; has the ability to query our thoughts & intentions against the truth & will of the Father.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, You are the way truth & life, direct us in Your will. Strengthen us when we are weak, shepherd us when we go astray & renew our minds that we may desire Your love alone. Intervene in our decisions & country’s leadership that only peace & prosperity may be found within our borders. Amen
Mark 7:20-23
And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”
INSIGHT
-Jesus was addressing His disciples & taught that; whatever comes from outside cannot defile a man but only that which originates from the heart. All evil comes from the heart & thus the call to set our minds on things above for our lives are hidden in Christ that we put to death all evil until our final glory with Him (Col 3:2-5).
SUMMARY
-Thought is written as machashabah in Hebrew & it means to plan, scheme, comprehend, intend, contemplate, meditate or recollect. It also means to have a conscious mind or an extent of reasoning, to remember past experiences & make rational decisions. It requires one to employ his/her mind rationally & objectively in evaluating or dealing with a given situation so as achieve set objectives.
-Evil thoughts always originate from the heart. This was the prime cause of the massive deaths by floods during the time of Noah. The thoughts of man were continually wicked that caused Gods’ heart to grief for man (Gen 6:5-6). The heart has also been referred to as evil above all things & desperately wicked (Jer 17:6). Therefore, evil thoughts inherent in the soul conceptualize & mature into sin. The wisdom of the world’s is foolishness with God & causes one to sin when he/she veers away from the presence of God (1 Cor 3:19-20). When Isaac realised that the wisdom of God was not in Gerar, he lied to Abimelech, that his wife Rebekah was his sister (Gen 26:7). His father Abraham had done the exact same thing & God delivered them from the hands of the Philistines. A message of hope to all was delivered to Mary by Simeon; confirming that which had been spoken by prophet Isaiah that her Child Jesus, was destined for the fall & rising, for all mankind to be saved (Luke 2:34-35). Christ; Who is the word discerns the thoughts of all men & corrects us when we submit to Him, in the effort to reconcile us to the Father. He reminds us to make rational decisions & focus on those things which are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, praiseworthy & give a good report for this is the will of God for us (Phil 4:8).
PRAYER
Lord our Father, have mercy on us & on the whole world. We submit to You with humility in our hearts, that You train us in Your wisdom. Renew our minds & give us strength to focus on that which is pure & of good report for the glory of Your name. Create in us a clean heart, Lord & renew Your steadfast Spirit within us. Bless us & direct us in Your grace what we may succeed in all things. All glory, honour & praise belong to You. Amen