Destiny Step One

Seven Steps to Destiny Step One, Thoughts

I have prayed and thought for weeks on what I would share on Wednesday nights. Some suggested another book from the Bible and I see that in the near future. I came across something that interested me and for a few weeks, seven hopefully, I want to share it.

I first thought to do a Sunday sermon series because the topics are very necessary to our Christian walk. After some prayer and thought I believe, for now I will share these things on Wednesdays.

I want to begin a series titled, “Seven Steps to Destiny”

“Step One, Thoughts”

There are seven steps for each of us to reach our full potential in Christ. I want to share all seven in their proper place. Each step is necessary and there can be no shortcuts.

1-Thoughts, 2-Words, 3-Decisions, 4-Actions, 5-Habits, 6-Character, 7-Destiny

I think you can see from this list that we will be prompted to evaluate ourselves from time to time.

Here goes. “Thought, an idea or opinion produced by thinking or occurring suddenly in the mind.” “Think, direct one’s mind toward someone or something; use one’s mind actively to form connected ideas.”

Everything we see in the world began with a thought. The world, with all the plants, animals, and humanity began with a thought in the mind of God.

Everything else began with a thought in the mind of men and women throughout time.

In 1^st Corinthians 14 Paul is teaching on speaking in tongues. Early on in the church there were problems with this, some of the same things occur today. Understand this. No gift from God is for exhibition purposes. Every gift is for the building up of the body of Christ.

In the midst of Paul’s teaching and correction, he said this.

1 Corinthians 14:20

Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.

1 Corinthians 14:20 NLT

Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind.

This admonishment is regarding a particular issue from Paul, yet it has the ability to teach us all to be wise in our thinking.

How many knows where wisdom comes from?

“It comes from experience.”

Isaiah 55:6-9

6 Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.

The word thoughts in this passage comes from a very long Hebrew word which means, “Thought, device, plan, purpose.” God is clearly teaching us to think right, yet He is also reminding us of who we are. His thoughts are higher than ours.

“The Hebrew word higher means exalted, but it is also used to imply good sense.”

Still, a time would come when our thoughts could align with His.

1 Corinthians 2:14-16

14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.

16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:16 AMPC

For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.

With all of this said Paul will still remind us of who we are.

Romans 12:1-3

1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

“Once again we are reminded to think with wisdom.”

Philippians 4:8-9

8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Philippians 4:8 AMP

Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart]

You will begin to see why these seven steps are in a specific order.

Tonight we shared thoughts. The next step is words. “Words come from thoughts.”

#inHisname