My mother had not one but two green thumbs. Growing up I honestly believed she even had green toes as I swore her silk plants would bud and blossom. Alas, I only have one green thumb as sometimes even my silk plants die. As with all life, plants start as a seed. They are germinated, bud and eventually bloom into the beautiful flowers or foliage we admire and adore.
Such is the case with our thoughts. A “seed” called imagine is planted within our head. It’s where we store our dreams and fantasies; this land of imagination. Our head is fertile soil in which to plant our thoughts and ideas. Genesis 8:21 says, “for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth.” Hmmm… seems one obtains this fertile soil at birth. Not like we get an option.
Now how we germinate those seeds is left up to us. The Devil would like for us to germinate his way. Evil, wicked, sinful thoughts and ideas are his specialty. God, on the other hand, wants them to be pure and pleasing. Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Sounds good but how does one think this way? Glad you asked. James 4:7, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” DON’T LET THE DEVIL GET ANYWHERE NEAR YOUR FERTILE SOIL WITH HIS WICKED SEEDS! You by no means can do it alone! So you must submit your thoughts, mind, ideas, imaginations, dreams, fantasies and even your thought process to God. The whole bundle just wrapped up and handed over.
A few posts ago I mentioned that my mind is one area that I battle in. God and I are going to war with the Devil in this arena. It won’t be easy, but I know that “he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world”, 1 John 4:4. Bring it on.
Grace and peace, James
*Scripture from ESV, Crossway Publishing, 2001