I have been thinking about stinking thinking. I was looking at 2 Corinthians 10:5, which says, “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God.” This made me realize I have a lot of speculations I’ve set up against the knowledge of God. These thoughts are toxic what if’s and lies contrary to the truth. Since I know I’m not alone, I wanted to share some insights.
Lie #1: We need to pray for God to change us. Wow, have I ever prayed hard for God to change the many foibles I see in myself. But the truth of the matter is God has already changed me. He changed all of us when He brought us from death to life in Christ Jesus. And if any further change needs to be made, it’s up to Him. Our job is to abide in Jesus; as we live in Him and His love, the Holy Spirit changes us. This goes with what Jesus taught about Him being the Vine and us being the branches. As we look at Him and live in His love, His life seeps into ours, like juice from the Vine into a dry branch.
Lie #2: If God loves us, He should be in a hurry to fix our circumstances. This one has tripped me up multiple times. I had even felt unloved by the Father because my circumstances hadn’t been fixed how and when I thought they should. But here is the truth: God is love and always loves us. And because God is love, we also know that part of love’s nature is to be patient (1 Cor. 13). God is not reactionary, nor is He nervous nor in a hurry. We are reactionary and anxious, and we project those characteristics onto God and think He should feel like we do about situations.
Lie #3: Our flesh nature is the real us, and we must overcome that part of ourselves. Truth: Our sinful nature has been crucified. We died with Christ. In fact, it says in Romans 6, “He died your death; that means you died unto sin and are now alive unto God! Sin was your master while the law was your measure; now Grace rules!”
Moreover, according to the Bible, the real us is IN Christ and seated at the right hand of the Father. In other words, the truth about us is wrapped up in Jesus. As it says in 1 John, as Jesus is, so are we in this world!
When we think things about ourselves and others that do not match what God says, we believe lies and entertaining speculations that set themselves up against the knowledge of God. If I think I am not enough, less than, or a failure, I am speculating things against God. Folks, when we do that, it is the epitome of stinking thinking. I promise you this, God’s opinion of you is way higher than yours. Who do you want to believe? Your speculations, or His truth?
But it’s not enough to just wallpaper new thoughts over old lies. That’s why 2 Corinthians 10:5 says we must “destroy” ideas that are contrary to truth. Otherwise, it’s like trying to paint over black mold. Things may appear better, but that nasty filth will seep through your fresh paint. Every single time. If we don’t tear down and destroy our stinking thinking, we get condemnation-crazy brain. Trust me, I’ve gone around this mountain enough times to know.
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