Teaching Notes

your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you. – Psalm 139:16-18



Finally, brothers, whatever 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


What are your thoughts? Righteous Thinking. What if your thinking is what we call “stinking thinking” (wrong thinking or thinking that see only defeat)? How do you change your thinking to the right way of thinking? You begin that process by focusing on the Lord. The psalmist remarks about the things of God. He says you saw me when I was unformed and at that time you ordained a purpose for me.

The psalmist then rejoices at the wonder of the thoughts of God. He writes your thoughts are precious to me. When God’s thoughts are precious to us, then we begin the process of seeking to change ours to be more like his. We ask God to change our thoughts from the old way we thought, to begin to think his thoughts and to understand his ways. We understand that God’s thoughts are vast and we cannot completely understand them all.

Yet, the psalmists is reminded that even if I were to try and count your thoughts I cannot, but I still know this important thought, I am still with you. This is what I call righteous thinking. When we turn from looking at our problems and begin to look at the one that solves all problems we begin to have righteous thinking.

We can begin at this point (and only at this point) to think of things that are right, pure, lovely and admirable. This is possible because the focus has turned to the God of the universe and we are reminded of his vastness. We are reminded of the works of the master’s hands. Righteous thinking means that we have the focus on the right things. The beauty and the sweet smell of being in the presence of God dispel the stench of the thoughts that the devil tries to bring to us. Thinking righteous thoughts begins us to thinking ourselves as victors where as stinking thinking makes us see ourselves as victims. Righteous thinking helps us to see ourselves as mighty warriors where as stinking thinking makes us see ourselves as captive slaves.

I pray for us today that we seek righteous thinking. God help us this day to begin to meditate on your attributes. As we begin to think on these things, that are both lovely and pure and righteous, we will begin the process of turning our thoughts from defeated to delivered. Help us to think your thoughts today. Challenge yourself this week, how can you change your thoughts each day?