For as a man he thinketh in his heart, so is he…….. Proverbs 23:7a.

This verse is commonly used to prove that a man is a sinner.  The lesson learned from it is that outward conformity can cover inward transgression.  What may appear to be lovely on the exterior, may not necessarily be what is in the heart.  

I believe that many obedient Christians suffer guilt because they are so often inundated by wrong thoughts.  The guilt comes from  focusing on the very appearance of the wrong thought in their heart rather than on their response to it.

When a wrong thought presents itself to the obedient believer, what does he or she immediately do?  The obedient believer confesses it to God in his or her heart.  To confess is to say the same thing about it that God does.  The Scripture says that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  The goal of the obedient believer is to have no unconfessed sin.

Are you a believer?  Are you an obedient believer?  Do you respond to wrong thoughts in this way?  Do you confess to the Lord that the wrong thought is sin and that it does not belong in your heart?  Does the wrong thought grieve you because it is there?  Is this the way you think?  If you do respond this way then praise the Lord, for as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he……

……let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…..