Chapter 9: Emptying “Evil Thoughts”

Chapter 9:

Emptying “Evil Thoughts”

 

 

 

In the previous chapter, we examined how we must empty the hatred that has taken root in our hearts and fill that place with the love and forgiveness of Christ.  Now we want to go one step deeper.  We want to look at the “thoughts” within our hearts—the thoughts that arise before our words and actions begin, thoughts that may not be readily visible to other people but that God sees.

 

We have countless thoughts every day.  From the moment we open our eyes in the morning until we go to bed at night, thoughts of judging and comparing others, feelings of hurt and hatred, greed and anxiety, pride and envy, and the desire to be recognized continually pass through our hearts.  But here we need to make an important distinction.  There is a difference between a thought suddenly coming to mind and accepting that thought into our hearts and continuing to hold on to it.  Regardless of our will, an undesirable thought may suddenly come to mind.  A thought of hating someone may briefly pass through our minds, or feelings of jealousy toward another person may arise.  What matters is not condemning ourselves merely because such a thought has appeared, but how we deal with that thought.  If we seize a passing thought, repeatedly dwell on it, nurture it in our hearts, enjoy it, and begin to justify it, that thought will increasingly dominate our hearts. And thoughts that grow in the heart eventually influence our words and actions.  Therefore, emptying evil thoughts does not mean becoming a person who has no thoughts at all.  It means that when a thought that does not please God enters our minds, we do not embrace and nurture it in our hearts, but discern it before the Word of God and bring it into submission to Christ.

 

Evil Thoughts Begin in the Heart

 

When Jesus spoke about what defiles a person, He pointed to the depths of the human heart.  In Matthew 15:19, the Lord said, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.”  In Mark 7:21–23 as well, Jesus said that various forms of evil come from within a person—that is, from the heart.  We tend to think of sin primarily in terms of actions.  Did I lie?  Did I steal something that belonged to someone else?  Did I hurt another person?  Did I commit a sexually immoral act?  Of course, our actions matter. But Jesus looked deeper than our actions.  The Lord looks at the heart that produced those actions.  James 1:15 tells us that after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.  Sin does not suddenly appear as an action one day.  If we continue to harbor a thought that has entered our hearts, it can grow into desire; and if we continue to follow that desire, it can eventually appear in our actions.  Therefore, emptying evil thoughts means not merely correcting actions that have already appeared, but examining before God even the direction of the heart that produces those actions.

 

We Cannot Hide Even Our Thoughts from God

 

One reason evil thoughts are dangerous is that they are not easily visible to other people.  We can hate someone in our hearts while smiling at that person.  We can be jealous while saying congratulations. We can hope that someone will fail while outwardly acting as though we care about that person.  People cannot know everything in our hearts. But we cannot hide it from God.  In Matthew 9:4, when the scribes were judging Jesus within their hearts, the Lord knew their thoughts and said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?”  They had not yet spoken those thoughts aloud.  Yet Jesus already knew what they were thinking.  This raises some very important questions for us: “What do I think about when no one else knows?”  “Am I repeatedly entertaining and enjoying thoughts in my heart that I could never tell other people about?”  “How closely does the person I appear to be on the outside correspond to the heart that God sees?”  True holiness does not end with appearing to be a good person before others.  It means bringing before God even those places in our hearts that no one else can see.

 

Evil Thoughts Can Also Appear in Religious Forms

 

Evil thoughts do not always appear as obvious forms of sin. Sometimes they can even look like religious zeal.  “I have greater faith than that person.”  “I know the Bible better than that person.”  “That person’s faith is wrong.”  “I am right, and that person is wrong.”  These may appear to be spiritual judgments, but pride, condemnation, and a sense of superiority may be hiding beneath them.  Jesus saw even into the hearts of those who appeared outwardly religious and devout.  In Matthew 22:18, Jesus knew the evil intentions of those who were trying to test Him.  Therefore, we must not confuse zeal for God with self-righteousness.  Knowing much about the Word of God must never become a reason to look down on others.  Having lived the Christian life for many years does not give us the right to judge another person’s faith carelessly.  The more we know the Word, the more we should become people who first place ourselves before the Word rather than people who judge others.

We Must Empty the “Calculations” Within Our Hearts

 

Among evil thoughts, there is one kind that is very familiar to us: calculating the value of people within our hearts.  Luke 9:46 records that an argument arose among the disciples about which of them would be the greatest.  The Greek word used here, dialogismos (διαλογισμός), is related to thought, reasoning, and judgments made within the heart.  Before the argument ever came out of the disciples’ mouths, calculations had already begun within their hearts.  “Who is more important?”  “Who receives more recognition?”  “Why is that person ahead of me?”  We, too, sometimes make calculations in our hearts when we interact with people.  “I have done this much for that person. What has that person done for me?”

“Why should I be the first one to yield?”  “How will being close to that person benefit me?”  “If I help this person, what will I get in return?”  When such thoughts dominate our hearts, we begin to see people not as persons to be loved but as objects whose profit and loss must be calculated.  If someone treats me well, I like that person.  If someone is useful to me, I draw close to that person.  If someone recognizes me, I love that person.  But if someone fails to meet my expectations, I close the door of my heart.  Jesus, however, did not tell us to calculate people. He told us to love them.  Emptying evil thoughts, therefore, is not merely removing a few bad thoughts.  It also means emptying the heart that seeks to calculate and evaluate people according to how much they benefit me.

 

Love Does Not Keep a Ledger of Wrongs in the Heart

 

First Corinthians 13:5 says of love that it “keeps no record of wrongs.”  The Greek word logizetai (λογίζεται), translated here in the sense of “keeping a record” or “reckoning,” carries the meaning of calculating, counting, or keeping account.  Thus, this verse contains the idea of not continually recording and calculating another person’s wrongs in the ledger of our hearts.  People remember wounds for a long time.  “That person did that to me back then.”  “Do you know how much I suffered because of that?”  “This time I am definitely going to pay that person back.”  In this way, we can record past wrongs in the ledger of our hearts and then pull them out again whenever conflict arises.  But love does not do that.  This does not mean that we must force ourselves to forget our wounds.  It does not mean pretending that a wrong never happened. Nor does it mean covering up a problem that needs to be resolved.  It means that we do not use our wounds as a ledger for continually condemning and attacking the other person.  Proverbs 17:9 says that whoever covers an offense seeks love.  Love does not erase memory; it refuses to use memory as a weapon of revenge.

 

Do Not Rank People in Your Heart

Calculating people in our hearts can lead to discrimination.  James 2:1–4 rebukes the practice of giving a good seat to a wealthy person in the church while pushing a poor person into an inferior place.  Why does this happen?  It happens because instead of seeing people as those created in the image of God, we evaluate them according to how useful they are to us.  An invisible ranking system can develop within our own hearts: “This person has a lot of money.”  “This person has influence.”  “Being close to this person will benefit me.”  “That person cannot do anything for me.”  But God does not show favoritism based on outward appearance.  Therefore, even in the church, we must empty the heart that treats people differently according to their wealth, occupation, education, social position, or influence.  The same is true in the workplace. If we are kind only to people in higher positions while treating those beneath us carelessly or disrespectfully, we need to examine our hearts.  The same is true in the family.  We must ask ourselves whether we value the child who performs well more highly while comparing a child who struggles with other children.  A person’s value is not determined by how useful that person is to me.  When we empty the heart that calculates people, we finally begin to see them as people created in the image of God.

 

We Must Guard Against the Heart That Tries to Calculate Even God

 

The habit of calculating people can eventually enter our relationship with God as well.  “I prayed this much. Why has God not given me what I asked for?”  “I have served this much. Why do I still have difficulties in my life?”  “I have given this much to God. Shouldn’t God give me this much blessing in return?”  When such thoughts dominate our hearts, even faith becomes a transaction.  Simon in Acts 8 tried to obtain the power of God with money.  Rather than receiving God’s grace as a gift, he thought of it as something he could possess and use.  First Timothy 6 also warns against the attitude of regarding godliness as a means of financial gain.  We, too, must ask ourselves: “Do I love God, or am I trying to use God to obtain what I want?”  “Am I thankful for God’s grace itself, or am I thankful only when God gives me what I want?”  When we begin calculating grace, gratitude disappears.  When we calculate love, service becomes a transaction.  When we calculate faith, we can even turn God into a means of fulfilling our own desires.  Therefore, before God, we must learn trust rather than calculation.

 

Thoughts We Harbor Can Grow into Actions

 

The Bible gives us many examples of thoughts and desires eventually becoming actual actions.  In Joshua 7, Achan saw the spoils. He coveted them. And eventually he took them and hid them.  At first, it was a desire within his heart.  But because he did not deal with that desire, it became an action.  The same was true of Judas Iscariot. John 13:2 records that the devil had put into Judas’s heart the thought of betraying Jesus.  Later, that intention to betray Jesus became an actual action.  This is why we must not take our thoughts lightly.  Second Corinthians 10:5 tells us to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”  This does not mean that every thought is sinful from the very moment it appears.  What matters is whether we will seize that thought and follow it or bring it into submission to Christ.  Thoughts may come to us, but whether we give those thoughts a place in our hearts is something we must discern before the Word of God.

 

When Evil Thoughts Are Left Unchecked, Our Discernment Becomes Blurred

 

If we continually harbor evil thoughts, our sensitivity to sin can gradually become dull.  Something that initially troubled our conscience may later begin to feel perfectly normal.  At first, we may recognize that judging another person is wrong, but after repeatedly doing so, we may justify ourselves by saying, “I was only telling the truth.”  Something we initially recognized as greed may eventually be repackaged as “simply wanting to succeed.”  A feeling that began as jealousy may be explained away by saying, “The problem is with that person.”  Sin deceives our thoughts in this way.  That is why Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart.”  Believers must not take their thoughts lightly.  “What have I been continually thinking about lately?”  “Thoughts about whom are dominating my heart?”  “Are these thoughts drawing me closer to God, or are they pulling me toward hatred, pride, and greed?”  We need to ask ourselves these questions often.

 

Open the Secret Room of Your Heart to God

 

There is a secret room within our hearts where no one else can enter.  Our families may not know what is there.  Our spouses may not know. The members of our churches may not know.  There, we freely imagine, judge, and desire.  That is why the true spiritual battle takes place where human eyes cannot see.  We may appear godly before others while condemning someone within our hearts.  We may bless a person with our lips while inwardly hoping that person will fail.  But God sees even into that secret room.  Therefore, we must open its door to God.  Do not hide.  Do not make excuses.  Do not rationalize.  Pray as David prayed: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way” (Ps. 139:23–24).  This is not a prayer intended to condemn ourselves. It is a prayer asking God to help us honestly examine our hearts in His light.

 

Fill the Place Emptied of Evil Thoughts with the Word

 

It is not enough merely to empty evil thoughts.  The goal is not to leave our hearts empty.  Romans 12:2 tells us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.  Philippians 4:8 exhorts us to think about whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and worthy of praise.  The Bible does not simply tell us, “Do not think bad thoughts.” It also teaches us what we should think about.  Therefore, when hatred rises within you, think about forgiveness.  When jealousy rises, give thanks for the grace God has given to that person.  When pride rises, remember that everything you have received is grace.  When you want to condemn someone, remember that you, too, are a person who needs God’s mercy.  When greed rises, count the grace you have already received.  Above all, think about Jesus Christ.  The best way to empty evil thoughts is not to struggle to think about nothing at all, but to allow the Word of God to renew our thoughts.  We must allow the mind of Christ to govern our thoughts.

 

 

 

 

Principles and Practical Guidelines for Emptying “Evil Thoughts”

 

 

How, then, can we empty evil thoughts in our everyday lives?  Because thoughts are invisible, it is easy to leave them unattended. Yet training ourselves to govern our thoughts is an important starting point for transforming our words and actions in the home, the church, and the workplace.  We can put the following five practices into action in our lives.

 

1.     When an Evil Thought Arises, Practice “Stop–Discern–Pray–Replace.”

 

When an evil thought arises, do not automatically follow it.  First, stop.  Ask yourself, “What kind of thought is entering my heart right now?”  Recognize the thought.  Then discern it.  “Does this thought agree with the Word of God?”  “Is this thought leading toward love, truth, and holiness, or toward hatred, pride, and greed?”  Then pray: “Lord, do not let me harbor and nurture this thought in my heart. Bring my thoughts into submission to Christ.”  Finally, replace it.  Do not merely try to force the evil thought out of your mind. Replace it with a thought that agrees with the Word.  Choose forgiveness in place of hatred, blessing in place of envy, humility in place of pride, gratitude and generosity in place of greed, and mercy in place of condemnation.  Emptying evil thoughts does not mean forcibly eliminating thoughts.  It means discerning them before the Word of God and replacing them with thoughts that conform to the will of Christ.

 

2.     In the Family, Do Not Record Past Wrongs in the Ledger of Your Heart.

 

Within the family, we know one another’s weaknesses better than anyone else does.  Therefore, when conflict arises, it is easy to bring up past wrongs.  “You did the same thing before.”  “You were exactly like this several years ago.”  “I still remember what happened then.”  Problems that need to be resolved should be discussed honestly.  Nor do we have to force ourselves to forget our wounds.  But do not bring up something you have already forgiven every time you argue and use it as a weapon to attack the other person.  Do not continually record your spouse’s wrongs in the ledger of your heart.  Do not define who your child is today by the mistakes that child made in the past.  And do not compare the weaknesses of one family member with another family member.  Love does not keep an account of wrongs.  Emptying our thoughts in the family does not mean forgetting every wrong committed by our family members.  It means emptying the heart that clings to those wrongs in order to condemn them.

 

3.     In the Church and Community, Do Not Rank People in Your Heart.

 

Do not judge a person’s value according to wealth, occupation, education, or influence.  Do not be kind only to people who can benefit you.  Do not judge a person’s entire character and faith as evil merely because that person disagrees with you.  Do not prejudge people merely because you have heard rumors about them.  Do not readily join conversations that focus on other people’s weaknesses.  Especially in the church, we must guard against the heart that regards one person as spiritually superior and another as inferior on the basis of their faith.  We are all people who need the grace of God.  The gospel does not divide people into ranks. It teaches us to see one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

4.     In the Workplace, Put Honesty and Love Before Profit and Loss.

 

Calculation is necessary in the workplace.  In business, we must calculate costs and profits and make responsible decisions. Therefore, not every kind of calculation is evil.  The problem is the heart that is willing to abandon honesty, justice, and love in order to gain profit.  Do not hide important facts in a contract.  Do not exploit a weakness the other party does not know about in order to gain an unfair advantage.  Do not spread false statements in order to bring down a competitor.  Do not take credit for the accomplishments of a coworker.  When making an important decision, do not ask only, “How much will this benefit me?”  Also ask, “Is this honest before God?”  The believer’s workplace is also a place where we live before God.

 

5.      At the End of Each Day, Examine the Thoughts of Your Heart Before God.

 

Before going to bed, take even a brief moment to look back over your heart during the day.  “Whom did I judge today?”  “Toward whom did I harbor hurt feelings?”  “Was I jealous of someone else’s success?”

“Did I treat people according to how useful they were to me?”  “Was I tempted to compromise honesty for my own benefit?”  “Have I been holding on to thoughts that do not please God in places where no one else can see?”  Then pray the prayer of Psalm 139: “Search me, O God, and know my heart … and lead me in the everlasting way.”  If you discover something wrong, repent.  If there is someone you need to forgive, speak that person’s name to God.  If there is something that needs to be corrected, put it into action the next day.  The habit of examining the thoughts of each day before God helps us place our thoughts under the Word rather than allowing ourselves to be carried along by them.  Yet we must not attempt to carry out all these practices by our willpower and effort alone.  We are not people who can perfectly control our own thoughts. 

 

We need the help of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit must illuminate our hearts through the Word, enable us to discern which thoughts are pleasing to God, and renew our minds.  Therefore, we can pray: “Lord, search my heart and my thoughts. Show me the evil thoughts within my heart that are invisible to other people but known to You.  Do not let me hide or rationalize the thoughts by which I judge and calculate other people, hate and envy them, and seek only my own benefit.  “When evil thoughts arise, help me not to seize and nurture them, but to discern them before Your Word and bring every thought into submission to Christ.  “Help me put the Word of God before my own thoughts and seek the will of God above my own desires.  “Fill my heart, emptied of evil thoughts, with Your Word and Your Spirit, and form the mind of Christ within me.”  Emptying evil thoughts does not mean becoming a person who thinks no thoughts at all.  Nor does it mean eliminating our capacity to think for ourselves.  Emptying evil thoughts means refusing to allow my thoughts to become the master of my life and bringing every thought into submission to Christ.  It means putting God’s Word before my own thoughts, seeking God’s will above my own desires, and following the mind of Christ rather than my own judgment.  The purpose of emptying is not to become an empty person.  It is to fill the place emptied of evil thoughts with the Word of God, to live under the governing presence of the Holy Spirit, and to possess the mind of Christ. 

 

Therefore, today again, we must examine our hearts.  We must look at what thoughts are entering, which thoughts we are holding on to, and which thoughts are growing within our hearts.  And when we discover thoughts that do not please God, we must not hide them. We must empty them before God.  Fill that empty place with the Word.  Fill it with the love of Christ.  Entrust it to the governing presence of the Holy Spirit.  When our thoughts change, our words change.  When our words change, our actions change.  And as our actions change, our lives also begin to change little by little.  Evil thoughts insist, “My thoughts are right.”  But faith confesses, “Even my thoughts must be examined before the Word of God.”  Emptying evil thoughts and bringing every thought into submission to Christ—this is the path of “emptying evil thoughts” that we must walk every day.