WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT?
Our thoughts shape our attitudes, decisions, and ultimately, our lives. God’s Word speaks often about the mind, how He thinks, how our human thinking falls short, and how He calls us to think differently. In this study, we explore what Scripture reveals about God’s thoughts, the human mindset, and the transformation that happens when we align our thinking with His. Take time to slow down, reflect, and invite the Holy Spirit to renew your mind.
INSIDE THE MIND OF GOD
God’s thoughts are far beyond ours. They are higher, deeper, and filled with wisdom that we cannot fully grasp. Through His Spirit and His Word, we can know and trust His heart even when we do not fully understand His ways.
Isaiah 55:8–9
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares 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.”
Romans 11:33–34
“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”
1 Corinthians 2:11
“For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.”
Daniel 2:20–22
“Daniel answered and said: ‘Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.’”
Psalm 92:5
“How great are your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep!”
Psalm 40:5
“You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.”
Psalm 139:17–18
“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.”
When have you struggled to understand God’s ways, and how might these verses help you respond in trust rather than doubt?
Since only the Spirit of God knows God’s thoughts. How does this encourage you to depend on the Holy Spirit when you seek understanding or wisdom?
THE HUMAN MINDSET
Without God, our thinking becomes darkened and misguided. These verses show how human thoughts naturally drift away from truth, but they also remind us that God promises to give us a new heart and renewed understanding.
Ecclesiastes 7:29
“See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.”
Genesis 6:5
“The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
Mark 7:21–23
“For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
Romans 1:21
“For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
Ephesians 4:17–18
“Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.”
Proverbs 28:26
“Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.”
Proverbs 14:12
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”
James 4:13–14
“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”
Psalm 94:11
“The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath.”
1 Corinthians 3:19-20
“For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their craftiness,’ and again, ‘The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile’”.
Ezekiel 36:26
“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh”.
How do you see these human thought patterns reflected in our culture today or in your own past experiences?
Ezekiel talks about God giving us a new heart and spirit. How does this promise give hope in light of our flawed thinking?
WHAT GOD CALLS US TO THINK
God does not leave us stuck in our old ways of thinking. He calls us to set our minds on His Spirit, to think on what is true and good, and to allow our minds to be transformed by His renewing work.
Romans 8:6–8
“For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
Romans 12:2
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Ephesians 4:22–24
“To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Colossians 3:2
“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
Psalm 1:1–2
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”
2 Corinthians 10:5
“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”
Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Philippians 2:5-8
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Matthew 22:37
“And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’”
1 Peter 1:13
“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
What does it mean to “take every thought captive” in your daily life?
How does loving God with all your mind look in practical, everyday terms?
WHEN OUR THOUGHTS ALIGN WITH GOD’S
When we fix our minds on God’s Word and truth, His peace protects our hearts and minds. As we learn to think the way He calls us to, we experience wisdom, stability, and fruitfulness in our lives.
Isaiah 26:3
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
Psalm 119:165
“Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.”
Philippians 4:7
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Colossians 3:15–16
“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
James 3:17–18
“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
Psalm 112:7–8
“He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.”
John 15:7–8
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”
Proverbs 16:20
“Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.”
2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind”.
How have you experienced God’s peace protecting your thoughts in difficult circumstances?
How does aligning your thinking with God’s Word help you resist fear, worry, or negative thought patterns?
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
© Doodle by René Boecking 
© Photo by René Boecking
© Photo by René Boecking
© Photo by René Boecking