Problem Thoughts
 
Do you have a problem with your thoughts? I certainly have thoughts that are not Godly. I am shocked at what pops into my thoughts at times. Psalm 94:1 tells us that "The Lord knows the thoughts of a man." "The Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him He will reject you forever." {1 Chronicles 28:9}. "Oh Lord you have searched me and know me." {Psalm 139:1}. "Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely." {Psalm 139:4}. "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man unclean." {Matthew 15:19-20}.
 
So what can we do when we have such thoughts? We can call on Jesus out loud. We can pray the Word back to him. "For though we live in the world we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretention that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." {2 Corinthians 10:3-5}.
 
"Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." {Ephesians 6:11-12}. "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." {Ephesians 6:18}. If our mind is praising God and praying to Him and quoting scripture, those evil thoughts are put away. Ask Him to "Search me, O God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." {Psalm 139:23-24}.
 
"Finally, brothers, what ever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." {Philippians 4:8}.
 
Doc's Tip: I always carry a couple of zip lock bags in my fanny pack or turkey vest. These are very handy to put your cell phone or wallet in if it starts to rain or if you are like me and my son Johnny, inclined to swim small bodies of water to kill ornery gobblers.