thinking biblically, part 4

©2024 dan bulkley | ask@lifechurchco.com

prayer & biblical thinking

section 1

Our thinking, our minds become more and more sound when we actually reason out our circumstances, emotions, plans, reactions, etc. WITH the Lord isaiah 1:18-20  james 3:17  instead of on our own. We enter into that co-reasoning by way of prayer psalm 119:26-28  with the Holy Spirit using the Word of Truth as THE guide john 16:13, 17:17  and template for our way of life, actions, attitude…our thinking ephesians 2:19-22, 3:4-5  colossians 2:6-8 .

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isaiah 1:18-20 esv

"Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

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james 3:17 esv

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

my notes:

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psalm 119:26-28 esv

When I told of my ways, You answered me; teach me Your statutes! Make me understand the way of Your precepts, and I will meditate on Your wondrous works. My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to Your Word!

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john 16:13, 17:17 esv

When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all the Truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come.

Sanctify them in the Truth; Your Word is Truth.

my notes:

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ephesians 2:19-22, 3:4-5 esv

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in Whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In Him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.

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colossians 2:6-8 nas

Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

my notes:

section 2

We pour out our hearts to Him psalm 62:8 ; confessing just what we are thinking as to cooperate with His cleansing of our hearts i john 1:9 . We openly acknowledge our cares and requests philippians 4:6-9  i peter 5:7  while giving thanks as well {that can take a lot of thinking} i thessalonians 5:17-18  so that His Spirit is justly free john 8:55  judges 7:2  to commune with our spirit to help us think and respond the right way romans 8:9  i john 2:27  in agreement with His revelation of Truth psalm 119:169  john 16:13 . Just like talking with a friend helps put thought to your feelings and circumstances; so it is with talking directly to the Lord Himself. Just expressing ourselves makes us think it through and He responds by prompting the direction of thought and further response isaiah 30:19-21  i corinthians 2:16 .

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psalm 62:8 niv

Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.

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i john 1:9 esv

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

my notes:

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philippians 4:6-9 nlt

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

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i peter 5:7 niv

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.

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i thessalonians 5:17-18 niv

pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

my notes:

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john 8:55 esv

But you have not known Him. I know Him. If I were to say that I do not know Him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know Him and I keep His Word.

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judges 7:2 nkjv

And the LORD said to Gideon, "The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’

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romans 8:9 nlt

But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to Him at all.)

my notes:

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i john 2:27 niv

As for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in Him.

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psalm 119:169 esv

Let my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to Your Word!

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john 16:13 esv

When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all the Truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come.

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isaiah 30:19-21 niv

People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious He will be when you cry for help! As soon as He hears, He will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

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i corinthians 2:16 esv

"For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

my notes:

section 3

For until we willfully enter james 3:17  psalm 32:8-11  isaiah 1:18-20  into His presence to commune with Him ecclesiastes 5:1-2  our thinking is more brutish and unreasonable psalm 73:21-22, 16-17 . It is when we reason WITH the Lord that our thinking changes to His way of thinking romans 12:2  i corinthians 2:12-16  thus He grants us a sound, Biblical mind Romans 12:1  daniel 4:34 . He grants us Biblical Thinking.

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james 3:17 esv

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

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psalm 32:8-11 esv

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

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isaiah 1:18-20 esv

"Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

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ecclesiastes 5:1-2 niv

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in Heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

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psalm 73:21-22, 16-17 niv

When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.

When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.

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romans 12:2 niv

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.

my notes:

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i corinthians 2:12-16 esv

Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit Who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

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Romans 12:1 nkjv

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

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daniel 4:34 esv

At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored Him Who lives forever, for His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation;

take it home

What are we to think on? How can we discuss this with each other as to think more on it? philippians 4:8 

What is the most thought-out, reason response to God’s mercy? romans 12:1-2 

What do we need to do to be prepared to act in accordance with God’s Word? i peter 1:13 

Thoughts become actions then practiced actions become habits and habits cultivated become character and character that is established through repetition becomes heart. All begins with what you are thinking on.

What are we to think about, deliberate on, discuss and conclude? romans 8:18  james 1:2-4  romans 6:11/colossians 3:5  ii corinthians 11:6/i corinthians 4:17  philippians 2:3  philippians 3:8, 13  ii thessalonians 3:15  i timothy 6:1  ii timothy 2:7  hebrews 10:24, 12:2-4  ii peter 3:15 

Meditation is intentional, focused thought. What should we meditate on? joshua 1:8  psalm 1:2  psalm 19:14  psalm 49:3  psalm 63:6  psalm 77:12  psalm 119:15, 23, 27, 48, 78, 97-100, 148  malachi 3:16 nkjv  luke 21:14  philippians 4:8  i timothy 4:15 

Discuss the example of Paul’s reasoning out of Scripture from i corinthians 10:1-11:1 .