”Wisdom from the Inside Out”

Wisdom from the Inside Out

The Disciplined Heart and Mind

1. Your Thoughts Govern Your Life.

• They Tell What You Really Are Inside.

Proverbs 12:5 NIV

  The plans of the righteous are just, 

              but the advice of the wicked is deceitful. 

Proverbs 23:7 NIV

          for he is the kind of person 

             who is always thinking about the cost. 

             “Eat and drink,” he says to you, 

             but his heart is not with you. 

Proverbs 12:20 NIV

          Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, 

             but those who promote peace have joy. 

Proverbs 27:19 NIV

           As water reflects the face, 

              so one’s life reflects the heart. 

• They Determine the Direction and Outcome of Your Life.

Proverbs 4:23 NIV

            Above all else, guard your heart, 

               for everything you do flows from it. 

Proverbs 4:26 NIV

            Give careful thought to the paths for your feet 

                and be steadfast in all your ways. 

Proverbs 21:5 NIV

            The plans of the diligent lead to profit 

                 as surely as haste leads to poverty. 

Proverbs 14:22 NIV

             Do not those who plot evil go astray? 

                 But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness. 

2. God Cares About Your Thoughts.

• He Knows All of Your Thoughts.

Proverbs 15:11 NIV

             Death and Destruction lie open before the LORD— 

                  how much more do human hearts! 

Proverbs 21:2 NIV

            A person may think their own ways are right, 

                but the LORD weighs the heart. 

Proverbs 20:27 NIV

            The human spirit is the lamp of the LORD 

                that sheds light on one’s inmost being. 

• God Hates Evil Thoughts.

Proverbs 6:16 NIV

            There are six things the LORD hates, 

                 seven that are detestable to him: 

Proverbs 6:18 NIV

             a heart that devises wicked schemes, 

                 feet that are quick to rush into evil, 

Proverbs 15:26 NIV

            The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, 

                 but gracious words are pure in his sight. 

Proverbs 28:8–9 NIV

             Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor 

                   amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor. 

                   If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, 

                   even their prayers are detestable. 

• God Sovereignly Overrules Thoughts and Plans.

Proverbs 19:21 NIV

             Many are the plans in a person’s heart, 

                   but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. 

Proverbs 16:9 NIV

              In their hearts humans plan their course, 

                   but the LORD establishes their steps. 

Proverbs 21:30 NIV

            There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan 

                 that can succeed against the LORD. 

• God Rewards and Fulfills Righteous Thoughts and Plans.

Proverbs 14:22 NIV

             Do not those who plot evil go astray? 

                  But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness. 

Proverbs 10:24 NIV

             What the wicked dread will overtake them; 

                   what the righteous desire will be granted. 

3. Submit Your Thoughts to God and His Wisdom.

• Put Away Improper Thoughts.

Proverbs 30:32 NIV

             “If you play the fool and exalt yourself, 

                  or if you plan evil, 

                  clap your hand over your mouth! 

• Seek to Align Your Thoughts with God's Wisdom.

Proverbs 16:1–3 NIV

            To humans belong the plans of the heart, 

                 but from the LORD comes the proper answer of the tongue. 

                All a person’s ways seem pure to them, 

                but motives are weighed by the LORD. 

                Commit to the LORD whatever you do, 

                and he will establish your plans. 

4. The New Testament on Our Thoughts

Luke 6:43–45 NIV

“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 

Philippians 4:8 NIV

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 

Romans 12:3 NIV

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 

2 Peter 3:1–2 NIV

Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. 

Hebrews 4:12–13 NIV

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. 

[Outline adapted from Donald Orthner, Wellsprings of Life: Understanding Proverbs, 71-74.]