Don’t Believe Everything You Think

If you’ve raised kids or were one this scenario’s probably familiar. Two of my boys were recently jockeying for position on the couch. The younger was sprawled out end to end when his brother came and sat near his feet infringing on his space. I arrived after the voices rose and the kicking began . . . the younger insisted he was there first while the other reasoned his kid brother should share the couch. These kinds of skirmishes just seem to happen—two sides, both insisting they are right. Looking back, it makes me chuckle how silly it is.

I remember once my husband said, “You always think you’re right.” I replied, “Of course I do, it’s my opinion, it wouldn’t be my opinion if I didn’t believe it.” Now, THAT makes me laugh.

We don’t easily outgrow justifying ourselves do we? We think our opinions and choices are right and warranted. It’s difficult to notice the error in our own beliefs. Jesus was a master of confronting the religious leader’s wisdom and logic. He challenged the ‘innocence’ of the mob who was about to stone an adulterous woman and Jesus confronted the Pharisee’s misconception He was not from God since He healed on the Sabbath. Our strong conclusions lead us to some pretty weighty actions.

It’s easy to get into a battle of wills insisting we are right. I think we form opinions all the time that could be better enlightened by the Holy Spirit. Proverbs tells us plainly, “All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.” (Proverbs 21:2) It’s difficult to notice the error in our own thinking, but God knows. He can cut through our logic, emotion, motives, and actions to instantly weigh our heart. The good news is: God is for us. We don’t have to rely on our own limited knowledge and process of reasoning.

God’s willing to show the way . . . to any follower humble enough to ask.

“Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalm 25:4