March 31, 2008
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Monday
Thinking
“We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” - 2 Corinthians 10:5 NASB
René Descartes, born on this day near Tours, France in 1596, was a brilliant child, entering college when he was just eight. Because of poor health, he was permitted to remain in bed until 11 o’clock each morning, a habit he maintained throughout his life.
His diverse career included a law degree and a stint in the Bavarian army. Through extensive travels, he made many contacts before settling down in Holland in 1628. Because of his ideas and influences, he has been called the father of modern philosophy. He also revolutionized mathematics by applying algebra to geometry, leading to principles still taught in schools worldwide.
Descartes is best remembered for one of history’s most famous quotes, “I think, therefore I am” (from a book he published in 1637). He was obsessed with thinking. Historian Kenneth Clark observed that, early in life, Descartes “discovered that all he wanted to do was to think.” One morning, when friends came to visit, they found him in bed. They asked what he was doing, and he replied: “Thinking!”
Yes, as Descartes discovered, thinking is important. God has given us incredibly complex minds so we can think, reason, learn, and understand. But it can be easy to depend on our own reasoning and focus on what we think. Although God wants us to think and develop our minds, we must remember that our spiritual lives are even more crucial. As Paul reminds us, we need to take “every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”
Today, ask God to give you greater wisdom and understanding and help you think more clearly. Fill your mind with His Word. Let it guide you. Make it the basis for your thoughts. Submit all your thoughts to Him.
(Forgive me if I don’t get to respond – my computer crashed and the one I’m using is extremely slow.)
Comments (20)
i will do that for today
i need some guidance….
I think it’s time for a new computer.
Yeah, sometimes we think too much! THen we think that all our thinking is what got us where we are. We forget that its what God thinks that is important!
@beadbrat - You think? – Sorry couldn’t help it. We have a friend that says that all the time.
Isn’t the terminology we use to describe something sometimes hilarous. Not that a computer crashing is funny, but why do we use the word “crash” as opposed to something else. Not that I could think up anything better at this point….
With that thought in mind….I continue on with my day!
@bubenun - Funny - Maybe we call it crashing because we want to throw it out of a moving car. – lol
Good reminder. Thanks for sharing. Hope you get your computer working soon. My laptop crashed in December. I wound up having to buy a new laptop, the other one was old and after it crashed, there was no recovering it.
Excellent reminders… “for as a man thinks in his heart, so he is”. So important to guard our thought life! I always need reminders like this. Thanks and may the Lord give you an even better computer next time.
Father.. take captive all of my thoughts.. that even they may be pleasing to you…. AMEN!!!
@nunyaincognito - Good prayer
Hey, I was just happy He listened when I prayed for him to help me sleep through the night last night without waking up a thousand times.
You’re saying we can ask for bigger stuff too? 
Actually, today I blogged about something the mind does that is kind of amazing. I think mine happens to work a little too much overtime and I have been looking for the off switch. Maybe I could pray that He shows me where that is….ok I am being a smarty today for some reason. I do pray that He give me patience and that I am able to let go and trust Him to know what is best for me in my life and that I see His path and not only mine. Hope you’re having a wonderful Monday!
he was a genius and it doesn’t take one to0 realize there is a God.
A famous quote “I think myself happy.”
“Today, ask God to give you greater wisdom and understanding and help you think more clearly. Fill your mind with His Word. Let it guide you. Make it the basis for your thoughts. Submit all your thoughts to Him.”
That is good!
I will surely do that today, both for my Dad (who really needs wisdom because of his kind of work) and myself. Thank you so much for sharing.
BTW, Happy April Fools’ Day! It’s April 1st here in PI.
Annika{v]
Good post! Everyday, I try to read God’s word. It makes my faith grow stronger. God bless!
@china_doll26 - I’ve been reading & thinking a lot about Joseph’s life lately.
@susie91793 - Good word – good advice.
@jillcarmel - So true … I was watching a program that was trying to prove evolution by how the moon was formed. I was thinking to myself…. This show proves that an intelligent being had to have designed everything. The perfect spot the moon is in balances everything on this earth – concerning the tides.
@chasnfireflies - There is a balance in our thoughts – like you I don’t like waking up in the middle of the night with thoughts going through my head. -lol
@Randy7777 - Amen to that