Bible Verses for Regulating Thoughts

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Romans 12:2

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Isaiah 55:8-9

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

2 Corinthians 10:5

casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

Colossians 3:1-2

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate on these things.

Psalms 1:2

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.

Isaiah 26:3

You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in You.

Philippians 2:5

Let this mind be in you which is also in Christ Jesus.

We Can’t Blame God For What People Do

Oftentimes it happens that when we are victimized in some way, by a close friend, family member, or even a stranger, our initial response is “God, why?” When we are riddled with questions and short on answers we then direct our anger and hurt for what that person did back to God as if He made the person do it.

When we find ourselves in this type of situation, let us remember two important things: 1) God gave all of us free will to live our lives according to what we feel we want to do both with Him and without Him, and 2) there is a real enemy that is manipulating the minds of people to incite evil.

The next question that one tends to ask is “why didn’t God stop it?” The hard response to that question is because he would be violating your and the other person’s free will. Psalm 89:34 says that His “covenant He will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of [His] lips.” If he were to insert himself in these voluntary acts, He would be going against Himself.

But we also have to remember that God knows more than us, can see the end from the beginning, and knows what that trauma will eventually do to you and for you. Another possible reason why God didn’t stop it is because it is apart of His plan. That may not be the easiest thing to read and this is typically where our trust in Him begins to wane. But what if we considered all of the possibilities of how things could have gone and didn’t, then we may have more compassion for the hard decisions that God has to make.

The encouragement here is that God allowed it to happen, which means that He had a purpose for your pain. However, stopping in the middle before you finish the rest of the story tends to leave the plot unfinished. It leaves questions unanswered and loose ends left dangling. You have to finish the story.

I want you to ask yourself. Who would you be if you had not gone through that experience?