Day 79 – Thinking About God
Brother Lawrence wrote that the practice of the “presence of God is an application of our mind to God, or a remembrance of God present, that can be brought about either by imagination or the understanding.”
In addition to knowing and loving God in our hearts, Brother Lawrence also tells us to know and love God through our minds.
A.W. Tozer perceived this as well: “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”
So, how are we to think about God?
The only basis we can think about God is how he has revealed himself in the Word of God. We recall how God acted or spoke in the Old and New Testaments. And God himself comes to us and becomes real to us through the Scriptures.
“Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them” (Psalm 111:2). “O God, we meditate on your unfailing love” (Psalm 48:9).
We meditate on God’s character, his attributes, his names, his titles, his works, and turn our thoughts into prayer and praise.
We exercise our sanctified imagination in drawing near to God through the biblical metaphors and images of God. For example, we think of God as a rock and fortress, the potter who molds the clay, a sun and shield, a just judge, a good father. We think of Jesus as the bread of life, the light of the world, the gate, the good shepherd, the true vine. We think of the Holy Spirit as like wind, fire, water, a dove, and oil.
We contemplate Christ and especially his work for us on the cross. Through the eyes of faith, we stand at the foot of the cross and witness again the death of our great Savior. Confessing our unworthiness. Receiving God’s forgiveness. Being overwhelmed with wonder and awe. Worshiping him with love and gratitude.
We remember often that God is with us, affirming: “The Lord is with me. Above me. Underneath me. Before me. Behind me. At my right hand. Around me. Within me. The Lord is with me!”
As you think about God, you expect God to respond to you in the same way God responded to people and needs in the Bible. Thinking about God and God’s Word is engaging God.
Action Step: Think about how you think about God.
This is God’s Word for you today,
Pastor Dave
