On this episode:
This episode discusses the importance of taking time to think and highlights 2 Tim. 2:7.
Episode Transcript
Opening
On today’s episode, we’re going to talk about the importance of taking time to think and how God can use that in your life.
You’re listening to Your Faith At Work with Dr. Ryan S. Howard, a podcast to inspire and equip you to partner with God in your daily work. Visit your YourFaithAtWork.org to learn more and download your free copy of 21 Days to a New Workplace You.
Episode
Many people get nervous as soon as they hear the idea of sitting alone with their thoughts and just thinking and being in silence. But I want to encourage you that it is worth your time to learn how to do that.
Paul’s Encouragement to Think
Whether you’re sitting alone with your thoughts in silence or whether you’re doing it with worship music on, however you’re doing it, taking time to think is important and I really want to draw your attention to what Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:7. He says, “think over what I say for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.”
Well, this is highlighting the fact that we need to actually take time and think about what God has written down in His word. Now this has definitely been my experience where I just sit there and mull over something, a truth of God’s word, maybe a promise that I’ve heard from Him, or something about my life.
And all the sudden I just get it. Something shows up in my mind and my spirit and I just get it. And God just downloads it or clicks things together. He connects it to other scriptures, He connected to other things going on in life. He may bring something else to mind.
It’s all this inner working of God just speaking to us through our thinking. And we need to learn to do that. And if you’re, if you’re scared of the silence, do it with worship music on or do it with something that doesn’t distract you, but can let your mind flow freely.
And we wanna keep it flowing toward the things you know, like in Colossians 2:3, it says, set your minds on things above. And think about Philippians 4:8, about whatever’s honorable, whatever’s just what is pure, lovely, commendable, those sorts of things. Think about those things.
You Already Do This
Now I believe that if you consider this, you will realize that you already know how to do this and you’re already very good at it. In fact, our thoughts kindle and flame our affections. When you think about things that you want to think about, if you have an activity that you really enjoy and you like to think about that. Or if you just met someone that you like thinking about and it brings you more affection for them as you think about them or as you think about that activity that you want to do, it grows your excitement and your affection toward that.
So this principle is just as important and no different when it comes to the things of the Lord and His Word and our affections for Him. So if we want to grow in our affections and understanding of something, we need to think about it.
Paul is talking to Timothy in that verse and saying to think about what He’s saying. God will give understanding when we really take time and dig into and mull over, meditate on that truth of that Word. Whatever it is that is in front of you at that time. And I promise this will guarantee you fruit. Actually, God promises this in His Word and it’s not only a intellectual download that God gives us, it’s an understanding in our spirit that we just get it and he may give us an articulation for that or it may just be something that we used to wonder about and now it’s just a settled issue. It’s not a concern anymore.
That’s how we grow in trust with Him. And like I said, that’s how we get understanding, like Paul says in 2 Timothy 2:7.
Your Turn to Think Intentionally
So take some time this week. Make sure you’re spending that time carved out with God and taking time to think over what God is saying to you in His Word.
Closing
Thanks for listening to Your Faith At Work with Dr. Ryan S. Howard, if you enjoyed this podcast, we’d love for you to subscribe, share, and leave us a review. Be sure to visit your YourFaithAtWork.org to download your free copy of 21 Days to a New Workplace You. And remember, God wants to partner with you in your work every day.
