December 22nd, 1962 “The Thoughts of God” Mr. N. Daniel
Psalm
139:23 “Search me O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts.”
This is a very great prayer. Some of
the prayers of David are very deep and very revealing. One thought of
Nebuchadnezzar made him lose his kingdom. Take care of your thoughts. You may
lose your family by one wrong thought. You may ruin a nation if you are a king.
One thought dominated him and he lost his kingdom. David says “How wonderful
are thy thoughts.” The truly greatest men of the world are so because of the
thoughts of God. Jesus Christ was nothing but the thought of God in flesh and
blood. Twenty centuries have gone by since he lived on earth. Nobody could ever
find any fault in that life. He is the most dependable deity the world has
seen. God has shown Him to us. It is God’s thought that produced the
incarnation. He gave the truth to his disciples. Those who imbibed it became
like Him. In the east we read of a woman of a fine family. One thought of hers
ruined her. Thoughts are so powerful. When it is the devil’s thought, he wants
it to be executed very quickly. When you are urged to do anything so quickly
that you don’t even pray about it, then it is the devil. The devil always says,
“why pray and waste time.” When you are in church a
single wrong thought can dominate you. It depends upon the atmosphere of the
church. From the pulpit can come thoughts that are dangerous.
Churches are expected to be places where godly men congregate and create a
suitable atmosphere for the soul to grow in Grace. Now some churches have
become fashionable resorts. Here in Vs.23, David is praying. All your thoughts
may not be wicked but the devil can thrust in one thought which is wrong. But
when you move with God’s children, it will be detected and put away. You may
have entertained it for a long time but God will eliminate it. Even our
sympathies must be in the will of God. They are sympathetic and kindly thoughts
but are they of God? Nothing which is not of God must be allowed to grow in
your thoughts. Your thoughts create your character. If you are with a proud
man, you become proud. Hitler’s one thought “If I live I will destroy
One great comfort of the child of
God is (Vs.2 & 3) “Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising,
thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compasseth my path and my lying down, and art acquainted
with all my ways.” What a chance for God to help us! Then our thoughts are yet
afar off, He knows it. Some of our wrong thoughts are from our friends. Every
thought, put it before God. If a man makes an offer of a job or project work,
great prospects, you must ask God. To be amidst God’s children and have all
correct thoughts is a great blessing. Some of those thoughts are the promises
of God for your life. Are you claiming those promises of God? If you don’t
claim the promises of God, you will be claiming the promises of the world. You
will rest on maxims like, “A man who works hard becomes rich.” The world
affords many good things but they will carry you in a wrong direction.
Vs.14.
Today if we put our thoughts to the test in the sight of God, how many of our
thoughts would still remain? An unconverted man’s thought vanish into nothing.
From the beginning you may have been having thoughts that are not of God.
Through a marriage, through a friendship or possessions or the position you
hold, the devil wants to stabilize us in his ways.
“I hate those who hate thee.”
Ps.139:22. Some people are very dangerous. You must keep them at a good
distance and settle down in the will of God and in the thoughts of God
establish yourself.