April 19, 2025

Minding Your Thoughts

A Biblical Overview of Obtaining and Maintaining a Biblical Thought Life

I Samuel 9:5 And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.  

Taking thought of another is selflessness in action. Saul took thought of the fact that his dad would take thought of him. The son was concerned that his father would leave his responsibilities, waste time, and perhaps even put his life in jeopardy to locate him. Therefore, Saul said to his servant, …let us return…   This is a touching story of consideration and respect. Two attributes that are in short supply today.

Taking thought for another means we leave off taking thought for ourselves. Years ago, my family checked into a hotel in a major metropolitan area. Our oldest daughter was just about a year or two old, our son was about four or five. This was a high-rise hotel and our room was on one of the top floors. Upon checking in we all went to the room to check it out, then I returned to the car to get our luggage. While I was gone my wife and children were in the room, but without her knowing it our son slipped out of the open door evidently wanting to go with me. When I returned, I asked her where our son was, she said that he was with me. In an instant we both realized that our son was gone.

I searched for him in the room, in the hallway, in the elevator, in the parking lot, everywhere. By about this time we were panicking. She was crying and I remember that my heart felt that it was ripped out. Here we were in a town where we knew no one and our son was missing, the worst thoughts came flooding into my mind. Then the phone rang. It was the front desk asking if we were missing a young boy. He was downstairs in the lobby. Evidently, he wanted to go with me to the car and opened the exit door in the hallway to see if I was there. Once the door closed it locked, he couldn’t go back into the hall, so he went down to the next floor, same thing the door was locked, he finally made his way to the ground floor where he found a door that would open.

Praise the Lord he was safe, but my wife and I will never forget how we felt when we thought the worst. Saul didn’t want his dad to have thoughts of him being harmed so he went home. Is there anyone giving thought for you that you need to put at ease? If so, do so today; take thought for them as they take thought for you.

May the Lord bless and be pleased with your thought life today.

Dr. William T. Howe