What occupies your thoughts? Do you think about your troubles? Are you always planning something for the weekend, vacation, or work? Do you continually think about things that need to be done? Are you so preoccupied with the cares of this world that you do not think about God?
We have many, many things on our minds. There are the daily tasks, projects at work, bills to be paid, and goals we strive to achieve. Our thoughts are focused on what is next. We often over commit ourselves, then wonder why we can’t complete it all.
There may be times we question if God is interested in what we have on our to-do list. Perhaps we should ask this question of ourselves, did we include God in our decision-making? Often, we don’t. Far too often we think in human terms rather than in God’s way of thinking. We commit to do something because we want to, then we ask God to bless our efforts and make us successful.
Peter was thinking in human terms when he told Jesus He could not suffer and be killed. Jesus immediately chastised him. Though Peter had been with Jesus for a couple years, he still had not caught on to thinking as God thinks. It would take the coming of the Holy Spirit for Peter to change his way of thinking.
We, too, need to change our way of thinking. We were given the gift of the Holy Spirit when we were baptized. We need to focus on the Spirit and allow the Spirit to guide our thoughts. It cannot be a one-time or pull out in case of emergency way of thinking. It must be a way of life that we think like God thinks. Peter learned this lesson. We should learn it, too.
I pray we all allow the Holy Spirit to guide our thinking. I pray we seek God in all situations. I pray each one of us set aside our human ways to pursue the ways of God. Change your way of thinking. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you. Seek God every moment. Learn Peter’s lesson.
Matthew 16:23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
Marty Pressey 