April 4, 2025

Minding Your Thoughts

A Biblical Overview of Obtaining and Maintaining a Biblical Thought Life

Revelation 17:9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.

Not all the minds we listen to have wisdom, but some do. Parents have wisdom young children do not have; sometimes executives of companies have wisdom about the business that the rank-and-file employees do not have. Pastors, through a life of studying the Scriptures as their vocation, probably have more wisdom of the Scriptures than someone who has only read the Bible once. Certainly, God and the celestial host have more wisdom about the unseen spiritual world, and the things to come than mere humans. The great thing about wisdom is that God has given wisdom to someone, somewhere, that can help you in times of decision or uncertainty. Find that mind which hath wisdom and you can obtain wisdom for what you need.

In elementary school, probably around sixth or seventh grade, I remember my teacher making the following statements: “Smart people do not have to know the answer to everything; smart people just have to know where to go to find the answer to everything.”  What a relief! No one can possibly obtain and retain all the wisdom that they need in life. All they need to do is surround themselves with people who do have wisdom and borrow from them. But make sure to do your part, the one from whom you borrow wisdom today may need to borrow wisdom from you tomorrow. As the old scout motto goes, “Be Prepared.”   In today’s verse, the angel was preparing John, John is preparing us, and so it goes.

By the way, in a day when knowledge is increased (Daniel 12:4) wherein knowledge of all things seems to be at our fingertips via our electronic devices. Remember this: Knowledge is not wisdom. Daniel Webster defines wisdom as “The right use or exercise of knowledge…”

Who then has wisdom? Consider a selection of truth from the Bible about who is wise.

Psalm 107:43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.

Proverbs 10:19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

To identify if a person has a mind which hath wisdom they are identified by these four characteristics. They understand the lovingkindness of the Lord, they refrain their lips, they win souls, they themselves even hearken unto counsel. Find that person and you will find a mind which hath wisdom.

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

Dr. William T. Howe