Carol J German

When life becomes comfy, too comfy, your thinking becomes muddled. It can’t reason clearly for there is confusion swimming around your thoughts. It can also become muddled when your basic needs aren’t being met, and you go into survival mode.

Whether your basic needs are always met or you find yourself in need, if your heart and mind are not set on God above, your thinking will take a beating and your faith will wane.

We are living in perilous times. Our days have been perilous since sin entered two human hearts in the Garden, and it will continue until God sends His Son back to judge sin once and for all. Today, you can keep from allowing your thinking to become confused. God needs you to think clearly. You are living in this day and time for His purpose, and these days are becoming more challenging. While rebellion to God is rapidly increasing, remember who is at the helm.

The Israelites wandered in the wilderness with Moses leading them to the Promised Land. God spoke through Moses. Today, because of Jesus, the Holy Spirit speaks personally to you. He helps you with every thought you have. He keeps you focused on God, as He aids in maturing your heart to become holy and righteous.

Moses and the Israelites were a couple months into their journey. God knew they needed some guidance in how to live in a healthy community, both with Him and with each other. In Exodus 20:1-21, God gives rules to live by. You are familiar with them, they are the 10 commandments. When God gave them His instructions, He did it in a way that shook them to the core.

Moses assured them, in verse 20, to not be afraid, God was getting their attention. “For God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of Him will keep you from sinning!” In verses 22-26 of Exodus 20, God speaks through Moses to His children, “You saw for yourselves that I spoke to you from heaven. Remember, you must not make any idols of silver or gold to rival Me.”

It is so easy on this side of heaven to let comforts lead to complacency, or hardships lead to survival-mode thinking. Both lead you away from God’s Presence where muddled thinking occurs. When your needs are met, you become self-reliant. When they aren’t, you protect yourself.

Remembering who God is and what He has done for you will help to stay aligned with Him.

Forgetting God leads to a malady of things, none which benefit anybody. New York City is going to find out how true this is. Minnesota is pushing the limit of rebellion along with California. Our elected officials in our government have dropped God off somewhere in their own wildernesses and are now embracing muddled thinking. Our country, which was founded on godly principles, is now dancing with the devil. It never goes well when this happens.

Think about what John Piper said, “Prayer is a wartime walkie-talkie. It is not a domestic intercom to ring up the butler to bring another comfort to the den.” When you tell God to move it or lose it, He will. And you will reap some heavy consequences. What may feel right in the moment will soon prove deadly. Many Christians live with God on speed-dial. I will call if I need you.

Here’s a reminder of God’s 10 commands:

1. No god before Me. What draws your eyes away from the Heavenly Father?
2. No idols. “I do not tolerate your affection to any other god!” (20:5)
3. Do not misuse My name. “I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16)
4. Observe the Sabbath and keep it holy. Rest is a good thing.
5. Honor your parents. Family is important.
6. Do not murder. Who are you to decide who lives or not?
7. Say no to adultery. God is pure, so keep yourself pure.
8. Do not steal. Be content with what God gives you.
9. Don’t lie falsely against your neighbor. Speak truth always.
10. Do not covet your neighbor’s house, nor wife, not anything. Again, be content in Christ.

These along with other rules of wisdom found in the pages of God’s Word will help to keep your focus on God and your thinking clean and clear. You cannot walk by faith without prayer and God’s Word. They will keep you safe in these perilous days.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me, everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:6-9)