The Pitfalls of Being a Thinker

[@jakestefano4118]

"We will use our minds rightly, when our eyes are lifted godward. If we turn in on ourselves and begin to boast, our reason will become bestial and destructive" This is on point!

[@paulogoncalvesjr]

“ … lifted godward …” .. meaning towards ..

[@jakestefano4118]

@@paulogoncalvesjr Yeah just saw that thanks!

[@annmollyy]

Just perfect now that I'm starting to get stuck on what to do next for my undergraduate thesis! 🥺 a timely reminder for me to step out of the box and understand who I'm really doing all of this for, is it for me and my pride and ego, or for the Lord and to know Him more through His creation 😭

[@DarlaBaltazar]

So helpful, thank you Pastor John! I find that being a thinker in a destructive sense can also make us prone to trying to plan and figure things out on our own, assuming we understand everything, rather than having a childlike trust and dependence on God, especially for things outside of our control. It often leads to anxiety, and anxiety always leads to sin. Humility before God is really key. 💛 I recently heard Jackie Hill Perry say that the first instinct of those with a gift of discernment should not be to judge, but to intercede. 💯 Our thinking and knowing should draw us to prayer to an all-knowing and sovereign God 🙏🏼

[@jesusbeloved3953]

Well said, sister! I’m asking Holy Spirit to engrave all the good I’ve heard today from you all! Blessings!

[@oneworldonehome]

"The mind is a magnificent organizer and vehicle of communication. But it must be wisely directed and employed for a real purpose." MV Summers

[@AriannaArdent-rs1di]

This is so convicting for me… I love apologetics and theology, but you don’t change minds and hearts with apologetics and theology. Knowing and articulating all the reasons why my faith is reasonable- means nothing if I don’t speak from a place of love. Let that be my focus Lord…

[@JadDragon]

Ecclesiastes 12:11-12 LSB 11 The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. 12 But in addition to this, my son, be warned: the making of many books is endless, and much devotion to books is wearying to the flesh. Jesus lives! ♥️ and is Yahweh God 🙏🏻 Christ ✝️ and King 👑

[@corysanders7302]

Amen and thank you God 😊 ❤️

[@aaronblea5722]

When I was of the World, my pride was condemning..now being a Christian I've learned to use good judgement which comes from biblical experience..experience STILL to THIS day..came from making bad judgements.. I thank God that He has allowed my ears to hear joy and gladness again..that the bones HE has broken, now rejoice!!

[@kevingreaux7133]

So our love for others does not happen by loving ourselves, our love for others comes from our love for God that originates from being known by God, and from being chosen and loved by God thus so we can love God and love other people using our knowledge rightly to edify others

[@jesusbeloved3953]

Kevin, what you’ve stated is so true, yet so complex, I’ve taken a screenshot of it to work it down in. Bless you, brother!

[@Saint_Svadhisthana_Sahasrara_1]

This might be the most helpful APJ yet

[@moviusministries6271]

Really good, love Johns teachings.

[@DCFNETWORKS]

Thank you

[@PaulLee-rs8uw]

Luke 6:43-45( A Tree and it fruit) " 43 "For no good tree bear bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapess picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person( 😊❤) out of the good ( 😊❤) treasure of his heart(❤) produce good(😊❤), and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."( Luke 6:43-45 ESV Study Bible) Hope you also belong to the good tree😊❤ and good person's heart😊❤ too in Christ Jesus(😊1st❤) in Christ. In Jesus'name, i pray( John 14:6😊❤) Amen.

[@PaulLee-rs8uw]

Exodus 23:4-9 of Exodus 22:16-23:9 ( Laws of social Justice) Exodus 23:4-9 "4 "If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. 5 If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down unders its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him. 6" You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in his lawsuit. 7 Keep far😊❤ from a false charge ( no good), and do not kill the innocent and the righteous, for I will not acquit the wicked( no good). 8 And you shall take no bride( bride is no good), for a bride( no good) blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of those who are in the right(😊❤). 9 " You shall not oppress a sojourner(😊❤). You know the heart(❤) of a sojourner(😊❤), for you were sojourners in the land of Eygpt. "( Exodus 23:4-9 ESV Study Bible) John 1:17 "17 For the law😊❤ was given❤ through Moses(😊❤) ; grace(😊❤) and truth(😊❤) came through Jesus Christ(😊1st❤)."( John 1:17 ESV Study Bible 😊❤)

[@PaulLee-rs8uw]

Matthew 22:37-40 "37 And he( Jesus😊1st❤) said to him, " You shall love(😊❤) the Lord your God with all your heart(😊❤) and with all your soul (😊❤) and with all your mind(😊❤). 38 This is the great and first commandment(😊❤). 39 And second is like this: You shall love(😊❤) your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments(😊❤)depend all the Law(😊❤) and the prophets(😊❤'s). " " ( Matthew 22:37-40 ESV Study Bible)

[@maxaplin4204]

Pride is certainly a big potential pitfall of being a thinker, but it isn't the only one. Thinkers can sometimes think deeply about a subject and become confused about something they don't understand and can't find the answer to. By contrast, those who are not able to think so deeply about this subject will never become confused in the first place. That is not to say that it is better not to be a thinker. But there are some drawbacks to being a thinker.

[@KingNigelthegreat]

thinkerslol. aned Jesus knew their thoughts. cause your brain is played out to us. stupid right? he came up hbehind me man im such a winner now. a leader. tell em I was Amalek. lol . never do the truth btw you know... in adultery its uhhh one big stupid lie. didnt think of workiojn on that at alla? well im not really into being a questioner anyhow . Economic Update: Yanis Varoufakis on the Changing World Economy Democracy At Work 31Then He went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath He began to teach the people. 32They were astonished at His teaching, because His message had authority. 33In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon. He cried out in a loud voice, 34“Ha! What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are-the Holy One of God!” 35But Jesus rebuked the demon. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!” At this, the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without harming him. 36All the people were overcome with amazement and asked one another, “What is this message? With authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” 37And the news about Jesus spread throughout the surrounding region. Jesus Heals at Peter’s House (Matthew 8:14-17; Mark 1:29-34) 38After Jesus had left the synagogue, He went to the home of Simon, whose mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever. So they appealed to Jesus on her behalf, 39and He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And she got up at once and began to serve them. 40At sunset, all who were ill with various diseases were brought to Jesus, and laying His hands on each one, He healed them. 41Demons also came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But He rebuked the demons and would not allow them to speak, because they knew He was the Christ.

[@florianstuven4053]

Your point about confusion is very real. Do you have advice on how to escape that trap?

[@maxaplin4204]

@@florianstuven4053 I'm afraid I can't think of anything more specific than the basics: persevere in prayer, go to people who you think might be able to help, keep growing in your knowledge of Scripture. But these are extremely important things. I would also say that as long as the problem is unsolved, try to hand it over to God and not let it play on your mind. It sounds to me like you have something specific in mind that is affecting yourself. You are welcome to share it here if you like and I would do my best to give my own answer. I can't promise at this stage that I will have the necessary insights, though.

[@florianstuven4053]

@@maxaplin4204 Thank you for the kind reply. I was asking because of my general tendency to overthink my decisions. Your general advice is definitely worth remembering. Regarding the specific decisions I have some people who already know me and my circumstances so I think it's best to share it with them. Still thank you for your offer!

[@maxaplin4204]

@@florianstuven4053 OK, I pray that you are able to make some progress on this. God bless.

[@cirr3587]

💖

[@TheCreepypro]

may we know our Lord and His word so we can redeem our minds and help them conform to our Lord!