What is Guiding Your Thoughts?

Doug over at Godward Thoughts recently posted a quote by John Piper, where Piper made the statement that “It will be a superficial, weak, carnal, disunited church; where people are playing fast and loose with their Bibles.” This is sadly the case with a growing majority of evangelical churches today. Piper goes on to say that people are turning to the world and observing what is commended by the world’s standard, but they barely give any time to look to the Word of God for their guidance. Consequently, the church succumbs to fleshly wisdom rather than to guidance from God’s truth.

This was a major issue with the Corinthians, and the reason Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3 that they were unable to tolerate the solid meat of God’s truth. They were not truly feasting on God’s Word and could only tolerate the very basic “milk”, like an infant. As a result, their actions were not guided by the Word of God, but by the works of the flesh. This resulted in a very immature, carnal congregation laden with sin. When people are not immersing themselves in God’s truth, spiritual growth is severely hindered, resulting in a weak, sickly congregation.

“1But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?” (1 Corinthians 3:1-3, ESV)

What is the remedy? Romans 12:2 tells us that we should be “transformed by the renewing” of our mind.

“1I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2, ESV)


The word “transformed” is translated from the Greek word, “metamorphoo”, which means to be changed into another form and is the same word used in Matthew 17:2 to describe the appearance of Christ in the transfiguration. We must be transformed, meaning that we go through a “metamorphosis”, resulting in a change in our outward actions and appearance. Our thoughts must be changed, being replaced with God’s thoughts since our actions are guided by our thoughts. Our hearts cannot be changed without meditating on God’s truth. If our minds are contstantly being filled with the world’s wisdom and are not being renewed with God’s wisdom, our actions are going to be governed by the impulses of our flesh. Our actions which include our emotions and feelings must be brought under the control of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God.

Only when we are meditating on the Word of God and filtering everything thrown our way through God’s truth, are we able to test and discern what God’s will is. It is only when we are walking or patterning our life after God’s Word that we are going to be fulfilling God’s will. It is the Word of God that lights our path and guides us in our life.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105, ESV)