Have you ever thought about why you do the things you do? Where does your behavior come from? These questions may seem somewhat unimportant to you, but … the answers to these questions really are important! What you put into your mind influences your behavior! Everything a person puts into their mind, sticks—every word, every image, every idea.
Q. So, why do you think you do the things you do?
The Bible tells us that what we believe (what is in our minds) determines what we do.
Proverbs 23:7 says, “For he is like someone who has calculated the cost in his mind. ‘Eat and drink,’ he says to you, but his heart is not with you.”
So, think about it—what is in your mind comes out in your behavior! Consider the enormous growing pool of information in your mind, much of which is subconscious. You have information coming to you from all kinds of sources. That subconscious information is influencing your behavior.
In the field of computer science, they use the phrase, “garbage in, garbage out.” This phrase is used primarily to call attention to the fact that computers will unquestioningly process the most nonsensical of input data (“garbage in”) and produce nonsensical output (“garbage out”). It was most popular in the early days of computing, but applies, even more, today, when powerful computers can spew out mountains of erroneous information in a short time. In other words, what you put in is what you are going to get out! What is in your mind comes out in your behavior!
Q. What types of things go into your mind on a regular basis?
Q. In what ways is the information going into your mind currently affecting you? Are you making wise decisions? Does your behavior reflect your relationship with God?
Picture your mind as a huge “vat” with two big faucets pouring everything you hear, see, smell, read, and experience into that “vat.” One pipe is pumping in the world’s point of view, and the other pipe is pumping in God’s truths. You determine how much of each kind of information is coming into your vat!
Your thoughts, values, decisions, beliefs, fears, joys, emotions, and attitudes are all by-products of what is in your vat! The great theologian A. W. Tozer once said, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” Consider that truth for a moment: The most important thing about you is what you think when you think about God! What do you think about God? Is your information accurate? Is it based on the Bible … or on what you’ve simply “heard” about God? It’s important that you have correct information about God coming into your vat—and the most reliable source for that information is the Bible. Your thoughts, values, decisions, fears, joys, emotions, and attitudes are all by-products of what is in your mind!
Q. What do you currently know about God?
Q. Where do you get your information about God? Where can you go to get accurate information about God?
Unfortunately, all of us “contaminate” our vat, which is similar to putting dirt in a glass of water! If you let the glass of water stand, the dirt might sink to the bottom … but it is still there! And it can still be stirred up to make the glass of water cloudy (and gross!). When it comes to your vat—and the information that is in your mind—you may have lots of good information in your mind about God and truth, and then someone tells you a dirty joke or you see something on the internet that is immoral. Now you have both kinds of information in your mind. You can let the ungodly “stuff” sink to the bottom, or you can “stir” it up and let it cloud your thinking. In any case, the “dirt” is still there.
Q. What kinds of things are currently contaminating your vat?
If we fill our minds with God’s Word and instruction, our decisions and behavior will reflect that. God’s Word is the place to go to get the right information about God. What does God reveal about himself in the Bible? He is eternal; He had no beginning, and He has no end. Nothing existed before Him. No one created Him. Nothing is hard for Him. God created all of the universe with all its electrons, elements, and the laws that control it. He is everywhere all at once. He does not change, grow, develop, or learn; He is the same yesterday, today, and forever—not because He is arrogant or small-minded, but because He already knows all that can be known.
He hates sin and loves righteousness. He is never surprised, never asks questions, never discovers anything, does not seek information—because He already knows all there is to know … about the world and about each one of us. He has total knowledge, and infinite wisdom to apply it. He is absolutely holy. And in addition to all that, He is infinitely loving, kind, patient, and gracious! How’s that for some good stuff for your vat!
Consider someone who is becoming a doctor. It is critical that this person have accurate data in their vat. How do they accomplish this? Primarily by reading books about medicine and listening to experienced doctors. The practice of medicine is a matter of making many decisions, many of which are critical. These decisions are made on the basis of what one knows, what is in the vat. A doctor facing a medical decision cannot use what is not there! The more accurate information the medical student puts into the vat, the more resources they will have at their disposal when critical decisions needed to be made.
Q. How do you think this idea of filling your mind with the truth of God’s Word might make a difference in your life?
A distorted, inaccurate view of God will result in a distorted, inaccurate response to Him! When we are faced with important decisions—personal, moral, ethical, spiritual, relational—we can only draw on the information that is currently in the vat. If we fill our vat with God’s Word and instruction, our decisions and behavior will reflect that. As you study God’s Word, your vat will influence you to live in a way that not only glorifies God but also points others to Him.
Here are some principles from the Bible to get you started on having your vat filled with God:
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.” —Philippians 4:8
“Jesus answered them, ‘You are deceived, because you don’t know the scriptures or the power of God.’” —Matthew 22:29
“Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.” —2 Timothy 3:16–17
“So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come!” —2 Corinthians 5:17
“For the love of Christ controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christ died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised.” —2 Corinthians 5:14–15
Being a Christian is all about having a relationship with Jesus Christ. It is a living faith in a living person, God himself. A distorted, inaccurate view of God will result in a distorted, inaccurate response to Him! What you think about God really does make a difference in how you act! Every day you will be faced with choices on what to allow into your vat … and what you are going to allow to influence your behavior. Choose wisely! Fill your mind with the things of God so that your life will reflect Him!
Application
Q. What is one step you can take to increase the input of God’s truths into your vat?