think about your thoughts

The “Reticular Activating System”  and Philippians 4:8

The reticular activating system (RAS) is a net-like network of nerves in the brainstem that acts as the brain's control tower for wakefulness, alertness, and sensory filtering. 

What It Does

• Waking and Sleeping: The RAS manages your sleep-wake cycle. It turns down its activity when you sleep and ramps it up to help you wake up. 

• The Brain's Bouncer: Your senses take in millions of bits of data every second. The RAS acts as a subconscious gatekeeper, blocking out unimportant background noise and letting only vital information reach your conscious mind. 

• Focus and Attention: It helps you focus on what matters. For example, it lets you hear your name across a loud, crowded room, or makes you suddenly notice a specific car model on the road after you decide to buy one.

• Danger Alert: When you face a sudden threat, the RAS immediately triggers your fight-or-flight response, making you fully alert.

The connection between the Reticular Activating System (RAS) and Philippians 4:8 is a perfect example of modern neuroscience validating ancient biblical wisdom.

Philippians 4:8 instructs: "...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."

When you actively practice this verse, you are physically training your RAS to change your Decernment.

WHY? The RAS helps maintain alertness and contributes to our attention. More broadly, our RAS system prioritizes some information while allowing other information to recede into the background.

That means what we already believe, fear, desire, or expect can affect what we notice:

• A fearful mind becomes unusually alert to possible threats.

• A suspicious mind readily notices apparent evidence of betrayal.

• A condemned mind notices everything that seems to prove personal failure.

• A self-reliant mind notices resources it can control while overlooking God’s provision.

• A truth-renewed mind becomes increasingly attentive to God’s character, promises, activity, and direction.

This helps explain the neurological dimension of the battle, but Scripture identifies its deeper spiritual and moral dimension. The battle is not merely over what sensory information reaches consciousness. It is over which thoughts receive authority and shape belief.

Philippians 4:8 is a discernment filter

Paul gives believers criteria by which thoughts should be evaluated:

• Is it true, or is it deception?

• Is it honorable, or does it degrade?

• Is it just, or does it distort?

• Is it pure, or does it corrupt?

• Is it lovely, or does it cultivate hatred?

• Is it commendable, or does it advance accusation?

• Does it reflect excellence and praise, or the character of the enemy?

🧠 The Biological and Biblical Alignment

1. Intentional Filtering (The Gatekeeper)

• The RAS: It needs instructions on what to look for, otherwise it defaults to scanning for threats or negative patterns.

• The Bible: Philippians 4:8 provides a highly specific, eight-part instruction manual for programming that filter.

• The Synergy:  By consciously choosing to focus on "whatever is lovely," you command your RAS to highlight those exact qualities in your environment, making them appear more frequent.

2. Overcoming Negativity Bias

• The RAS: Naturally flags negative information to keep you safe from perceived danger.

• The Bible: Commands a deliberate shift toward the "excellent" and "praiseworthy."

• The Synergy: Practicing the verse forces the RAS to build new neural pathways, overriding the default survival mode with a growth-oriented mindset.

3. Creating Your Reality

• The RAS: Does not judge if your focus is good or bad; it simply brings you more of what you dwell on.

• The Bible: Implies that your thought life dictates your peace (Philippians 4:9 promises "the God of peace will be with you").

• The Synergy: When you look for things that are "true" and "right," your RAS filters out the noise of anxiety, directly lowering your stress levels and bringing the biblical promise of peace to fruition.

🛠️ How to "Program" Your RAS Using Philippians 4:8

• Daily Audits: Ask yourself throughout the day if your current thoughts fit the Philippians 4:8 criteria.

• Gratitude Journaling: Write down three things that are "admirable" or "pure" every morning to prime your RAS for the day.

• Media Boundaries: Guard what you watch and listen to, as negative media trains your RAS to look for more chaos.

In the original Koine Greek text of Philippians 4:8, the words Paul selects are not just passive suggestions for "positive thinking". They are precise, active commands.

Here is the exact breakdown of the Greek words from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance and how they function to program your mental filter. [1]

🔍 The Eight Filters of Philippians 4:8

English Word	Koine Greek	Strong's #	Literal Greek Meaning & Nuance
True	Alēthē (ἀληθῆ)	G227	Unconcealed, reality, fact. It refers to things that match actual reality as God defines it, rather than illusions, exaggerations, or anxiety-driven falsehoods.
Noble / Honorable	Semna (σεμνά)	G4586	Venerable, dignified, inspiring respect. It describes something with a "noble seriousness" that elevates your character rather than degrading it.
Right / Just	Dikaia (δίκαια)	G1342	In alignment with God’s standard. It means conforming to what is right, fair, and just, ensuring your thoughts are balanced and honest.
Pure	Hagna (ἁγνά)	G53	Chaste, clean, unpolluted. It implies freedom from hidden motives or corrupting influences. It is clean down to the core.
Lovely	Prosphilē (προσφιλῆ)	G4375	That which calls forth love. Composed of pros ("toward") and phileo ("love"). It means thoughts that promote harmony, kindness, and sweetness rather than division.
Admirable / Good Repute	Euphēma (εὔφημα)	G2163	Praiseworthy speech, sounding good. The root of our modern word euphemism. It means focusing on information that builds up and is worthy of being spoken out loud.
Excellent / Virtue	Aretē (ἀρετή)	G703	Moral excellence or valor. Used by classical Greeks to describe an instrument or person fulfilling its highest purpose perfectly.
Praiseworthy	Epainos (ἔπαινος)	G1868	Approbation, commendable. Thoughts that are universally recognized as intrinsically good and pleasing to God.

⚙️ The Command: "Think on These Things"

The final verb of the verse changes everything when looking at it through the lens of neuroscience:

Logizomai (λογίζεσθε) — Strong's G3049 / G3049 [1, 2]

• The Accounting Meaning: In the ancient world, logizomai was a mathematical and accounting term. It meant to calculate, reckon, take inventory, or deliberately log entries into a ledger. [1, 2, 3]

• The Grammar Tense: It is written in the present imperative tense, which indicates an ongoing, habitual command. It literally translates to: "Keep on calculating/reckoning these things continually." [1]

🧠 The Neuroscience Hook

Paul is telling you to audit your brain's ledger. You cannot stop random or intrusive data from floating past your conscious awareness. However, logizomai means you choose which thoughts you "log" as valuable assets in your mind. By continually auditing your thoughts against these eight strict criteria, you force your Reticular Activating System (RAS) to hunt for those specific inputs in your daily life.

🔍 Let’s add 2 Corinthians 10:5, it completes the process because Philippians 4:8 tells us what should occupy our minds, while 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us what to do with thoughts that oppose God’s truth.

—Philippians 4:8 “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable…think about these things”     

 —2 Corinthians 10:5 “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”  

The relationship

The RAS helps explain the brain’s selective attention. We are surrounded by more information than we can consciously process, so the brain gives greater prominence to what appears important, threatening, desirable, or relevant.

But the RAS does not know what is true. It can make a lie prominent just as easily as a truth—especially when the lie has been reinforced by fear, repetition, desire, trauma, or cultural pressure.

That is where the two passages work together:

• Philippians 4:8 establishes the filter: Is this true and consistent with God’s character?

• 2 Corinthians 10:5 establishes the authority: Will this thought be permitted to govern me, or must it be brought under Christ’s lordship?

• Philippians 4:9 establishes the action: “Practice these things.”

The progression becomes:   

Thought enters awareness → thought is tested by truth → falsehood is taken captive → truth receives sustained attention → truth is practiced through obedience.

What “taking every thought captive” means

Paul’s immediate context is spiritual warfare against “arguments” and proud claims that oppose the knowledge of God. Therefore, taking thoughts captive is more than trying to suppress unpleasant thoughts.

It means confronting every belief, interpretation, accusation, imagination, or argument that claims authority contrary to Christ.

The decisive questions are:

1. Is this thought true?

2. Does it agree with Scripture and the character of Christ?

3. Where is it directing my attention?

4. What will happen if I continue dwelling upon it?

5. Will believing it lead me toward trust and obedience—or away from them?

A thought may enter the mind without our permission. That does not mean it is true, that it represents our identity, or that we have sinned by becoming aware of it. The spiritual issue is whether we welcome it, agree with it, dwell upon it, and allow it to direct us.

Deception, distraction, and occupation

These passages answer the enemy’s three tactics directly:

Enemy’s tactic	Biblical response
Deception introduces what  contradicts God	Destroy arguments raised against the knowledge of God
Distraction redirects attention away from truth	Think deliberately about what is true and worthy
Occupation keeps the mind and  time filled	Take the thought captive and redirect attention toward Christ
Desired result is belief expressed in disobedience	Bring the thought into obedience to Christ and practice the truth

This reveals something important: the enemy seeks not merely to place a thought in our minds, but to get us to give that thought attention, agreement, and eventually expression.

The battlefield progression is:

Suggestion → attention → consideration → agreement → belief → choice → action → consequence

The biblical counteroffensive is:

Recognition → examination → rejection of the lie → replacement with truth → trust → obedience

The role of the Holy Spirit

This is not a self-powered attempt to control every mental event. It is Spirit-led discernment.

The believer does not merely say, “I will think better thoughts.” The believer says:

“Holy Spirit, reveal what is true. Show me where my thinking contradicts Christ. Help me reject the lie, receive the truth, and obey what You are showing me.”

That places the entire process within God’s Strategic Will:

• God’s initiative: He provides Scripture, our identity in Christ, the mind of Christ, and the indwelling Holy Spirit.

• Our response: We recognize, test, reject, redirect, trust, and obey.

• The result: Our minds are renewed and our actions increasingly express who we already are in Christ.

ARE → BE → DO

ARE — Identity:
I am in Christ. A deceptive or intrusive thought does not define who I am.

BE — Renewed mind:
I test the thought, take captive what opposes Christ, and dwell upon what is true.

DO — Obedient action:
I practice the truth through Spirit-led trust and obedience.

So the complete conclusion:

The RAS helps explain why certain thoughts capture our attention, but it cannot determine whether those thoughts are true. Philippians 4:8 gives us God’s standard for what should occupy the mind, and 2 Corinthians 10:5 commands us to confront every argument that contradicts God, taking it captive under the lordship of Christ. We do not merely reject the lie; we redirect our attention to truth and put that truth into practice through trust and obedience.

Even more concisely:

Philippians 4:8 tells us what to dwell upon. Second Corinthians 10:5 tells us what must not be allowed to rule. Together they teach us to test every thought by God’s truth, take deception captive, redirect our attention, and obey Christ.

THINK ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS!

Fruited Fruit

A peach tree produces peaches. A peach needs to die to produce another peach tree. It falls to the ground and the flesh of the peach withers away leaving the pit. If properly planted another peach tree will grow.

🔥 Wrath, Mercy, and the Making of a Kingdom Saint

 How God's Strategic Will Invites Us into the Fullness of His Guidance, Provision, and Care

God’s eternal plan is not a reaction to human failure—it is a sovereign, loving, and redemptive design that existed from the beginning. It encompasses the totality of His nature: wrath, judgment, justice, mercy, and salvation. And yet, this same plan calls us—redeemed and reborn—to walk as Fully Actualized Kingdom Saints, empowered to live under His strategic will in radical dependence.

📜 God's Plan from the Beginning

From Genesis to Revelation, God has revealed the depths of His character and the heights of His desire to restore fallen humanity.

• Wrath is God’s holy response to sin and rebellion (Romans 1:18).

• Judgment is His just evaluation of all things (Hebrews 9:27).

• Justice is His moral foundation—He always does what is right (Psalm 89:14).

• Mercy withholds deserved punishment, making room for restoration (Titus 3:5).

• Salvation is the ultimate expression of His love—delivering us from wrath into life through Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).

These are not separate ideas but woven threads in a single redemptive tapestry.

📌 God's Strategic Will: The Blueprint Behind It All

God’s Strategic Will is His overarching purpose that every person:

• Knows Him,

• Becomes who He created them to be, and

• Walks in the fullness of His guidance, provision, and care.

This isn’t passive. It is His intentional design that invites our active response. We were created to partner with Him—to trust and obey, not just to believe with our minds but to live by faith with our whole being.

And what is this faith?
A faith that saves, transforms, and actuates.

It begins at the cross where mercy meets judgment, and it leads to a life where justice and grace shape every step we take.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
— Proverbs 3:5-6

🚶 Walking in the Fullness of God's Guidance, Provision, and Care

When we walk in the fullness of God’s guidance:

• We are led by His Spirit (Romans 8:14)

• We avoid the path of wrath by abiding in Christ (Romans 8:1)

• We experience discipline as refinement rather than condemnation (Hebrews 12:6-11)

When we walk in the fullness of His provision:

• We are equipped with everything needed for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3)

• We no longer strive to be "good enough," but live as those already made new

When we walk in the fullness of His care:

• We cast every anxiety on Him (1 Peter 5:7)

• We trust His perfect justice even when we suffer (1 Peter 2:23)

In this walk, mercy shapes our past, grace empowers our present, and justice secures our future.

👑 Becoming a Fully Actualized Kingdom Saint

The fruit of walking in God's Strategic Will is the formation of what I call a Fully Actualized Kingdom Saint.

This is someone who:

• Knows their identity as a child of God (John 1:12)

• Lives by the Spirit, not the flesh (Galatians 5:16-25)

• Reveals God's Kingdom by their actions, attitudes, and authority (Matthew 5:14; 2 Corinthians 5:20)

• Overcomes through the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony (Revelation 12:11)

They are not just saved from something. They are saved for something.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
— Ephesians 2:10

🧭 Final Thoughts: Mercy and Judgment are Not Opposites

In God's economy, mercy and judgment are not at war—they are in harmony.

• His wrath shows us the seriousness of sin.

• His judgment reveals His righteousness.

• His justice makes His Kingdom trustworthy.

• His mercy opens the door to relationship.

• His salvation completes the invitation to return home.

When we align with His Strategic Will, we become living witnesses to this beautiful, powerful plan—a plan that transforms us and sends us out as sons and daughters of light, walking in the fullness of God’s guidance, provision, and care.

Be a Disciple of Christ

To be a disciple you have to follow. Disciples are called to "Make Didsciples". In the economy of God's Kingdom there is no leadership but that of the holy Spirit.

How to live your life "by Grace, through Faith?

Proverbs 3;5-7 Understand "God's Strategic Will" leads you to become all He created you to be. You do that by walking in the Fullness of God's guidance, provision and Care. The goal, becoming a Fully Actualized Kingdom Saint.

"by Grace, through Faith"
God's Initiative  /  our response 
His promise / our trust and obey

The world is as it is.

We are swept along by the circumstances of our existence, our participation in, and involvement with, the world as it is. None of it is a surprise to God.

Abide in Christ

Galatians 5:16 instructs believers to "walk by the Spirit," which prevents fulfilling the desires of the sinful nature. This verse highlights a direct conflict between the desires of the flesh and the Holy Spirit. It emphasizes a daily, dependent, and obedient relationship with God over legalism. 

Key Aspects of Galatians 5:16:Actionable Instruction: "Walk by the Spirit" (NIV), "live by the Spirit" (ESV), or "let the Holy Spirit guide your lives" (NLT)

The Result: You will not gratify, fulfill, or carry out the desires/lusts of the flesh.
The Context (vv. 16-17): The flesh and the Spirit are in direct opposition, preventing believers from doing what they might otherwise want to do.

Interpretation: Walking in the Spirit means depending on the Holy Spirit, being sensitive to his voice, and obeying his leading to avoid falling into sin. It is a continuous, daily lifestyle, not just a one-time act.

• 1 John 4:17
• 1 Cor 6:17
• Ephesians 4:24
• Romans chapter 6
• Ephesians 2:3
• Romans 8:6

Perfection vs. Excellence

 2 Timothy 4:7 fought the good fight. 

Philippians 3:12-16 KJV  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

Thinking about your thoughts, the feedback loop of the Holy Spirit

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

• Take every thought captive to the lordship of Christ
• Pray without ceasing
• Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind
• Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus
• John 5:19 Jesus said "I don't do anything except what I see my father doing" 
• John 20:21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
• All the promises find their yes in Christ
• 1 Peter 1:4  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Partakers of the Divine Nature

2 Peter 1:3  His divine power has given us everything we nee thed for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His owna glory and excellence. 4.Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; 6. and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7. and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8. For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9. But whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness, having forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

10. Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble, 11. and you Take receive a lavish reception into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Its good enough.

Passivity and the call to excellence.

Not knowing what to exspect. and  dealing with it as it comes.

Pride in my flexibility and living in the Now.

Compromise and the lies of the enemy

Be a doer of the truth and not a hearer onnly.

Knowledge - Understanding - Wisdom?

Ai will have the compendium of man's experiential knowledge.

Mans experience will add to Ai's

Authority, Power and Unity

Healing and deliverance are personal words spoken that can transform lives.

Partnerships involve sacrifices within fellowship, affecting not only individuals but also the entire community.

Circle the wagons to unite and protect.

God's Grace is Free

What is the grace of God?

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

I've heard it said that it is the unmerited favor of God. Have you experienced God's grace? What is it like?

• While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 
• No man comes unto the Father except the Spirit draw him. 

God's initiative reveals His grace. Our response reveals our faith/trust/belief, or lack thereof.

The gospel is declared, "Repent, for the kingdom is at hand." Jesus forgives the woman caught in adultery and tells her, "Now go sin no more". 

What is God's grace? It's not just a call to be blameless but an invitation to be transformed by the renewing of our minds that we might be set free from what? That first lie in the garden and all the lies and deception to follow, that we can decide for ourselves what is good and evil. How? By trusting the Lord with all our heart and not leaning on our own understanding, recognizing God's involvement in our life and trusting his guidance every day.

Why? For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God before ordained for us to walk in. what are these good works? Galatians 5:22-23

What is Truth?

Can Truth Really Be Known?

In a world filled with opinions and perspectives, many wonder if anything can truly be known. Philosophy reminds us that human understanding has limits. Our senses can mislead us. Our reasoning can fail. Even our best conclusions are incomplete.

So the real question becomes:
 If human knowledge is limited, where does true wisdom come from?

The Bible agrees with this concern—but it does not leave us in uncertainty. Instead, it points us to a truth that is not merely discovered by the mind, but revealed through relationship with God.

Proverbs 3:5–6 — The Foundation of Knowable Truth

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart,  and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways acknowledge Him,  and He shall direct your paths.”

These verses do not reject knowledge—they redefine its source.

They teach us:

• Human understanding has value, but not authority.
• God’s wisdom is not merely superior—it is essential.
• Truth is not only something we think about—it is something that guides our steps.

This is not abstract theology. This is usable truth—truth that works in real life.

Solomon: When Wisdom Becomes Detached from Relationship

Solomon is one of the greatest examples in Scripture of what happens when wisdom is misunderstood.

God gave Solomon wisdom beyond any man who lived before or after him. But Scripture suggests something deeper than intellectual brilliance: God intended wisdom to flow from relationship, not independence.

At the beginning of Solomon’s reign, his heart was humble. He walked closely with God. His wisdom was not merely sharp—it was submitted.

But later, as we read Ecclesiastes, we hear a different voice:

“I said in my heart, ‘Come now, I will test you with pleasure…’”

 “I applied my heart to know wisdom…”

 “All is vanity…”

Solomon did not lose intelligence.  He lost dependence.

Ecclesiastes is the testimony of a man who possessed extraordinary wisdom—but tried to use it apart from ongoing trust in God. The result was frustration, emptiness, and disillusionment.

This shows us something critical:

Wisdom separated from relationship with God eventually becomes powerless to give meaning.

Truth That Is Revealed, Not Manufactured

Jesus later confirmed what Solomon learned through experience:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.” — John 14:6

Truth is not just a principle.  Truth is a Person.

And knowing truth is not merely understanding ideas—it is walking with God.

2 Chronicles 16:9 — The Heart God Responds To

“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth,

 to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is completely His.”

This verse reveals something extraordinary about how God works:

• God is not searching for the smartest minds.
•  God is not searching for the most gifted leaders.
•  God is searching for hearts fully His.

Truth flows most powerfully not to the independent thinker, but to the dependent believer.

This is the same principle Solomon began with—and later drifted from.

What This Teaches Us About Truth

Truth is not:

• esoteric knowledge for a few,
• intellectual mastery for the elite,
• or philosophical certainty for the confident.

Truth is:

• revealed to the humble,
• given to the dependent,
• walked in by the willing.
  

This is why Proverbs 3:5–6 stands at the center of biblical wisdom: Do not lean on your own understanding—lean on the Lord.

Why the Bible Is Reliable for Those Seeking Real Truth

For anyone seeking truth that actually works, the Bible stands on three solid foundations:

1. Historically reliable — preserved with unmatched care.
2. Spiritually coherent — telling one unified story of God restoring relationship with humanity.
3. Existentially proven — changing lives wherever its truth is trusted.

But more than all this, the Bible is reliable because it consistently leads people into relationship with the living God, not merely into better ideas.

Understanding biblical truth is not primarily about intelligence.  It is about willingness.

• Willingness to trust.
•  Willingness to listen.
•  Willingness to surrender independence.

God gave Solomon wisdom.  But what sustained him at first was his dependence on God.

Scripture shows us clearly:  When wisdom remains connected to relationship with God, it becomes life-giving.  When it becomes detached, it becomes empty.

Closing Thought

Truth is knowable.  Not because our minds are sufficient,  but because God is faithful.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart… and He shall direct your paths.”

That is not a call to ignorance.  It is a call to relational wisdom—  the kind of truth that does not merely inform us,  but forms us into the people God created us to be.

Vocabulary of the Holy Spirit

There are words that communicate truth, grounded in Love and discovered in humility/desperation, that call us to change our thinking and become the person God has called us to be. The first word that I recognized God was speaking to me about was one I had never thought about before. But at the time and in the situation I was in, and because of what was heavy on my heart, God told me to be Blameless. It was the weeks of "thinking" about that word,  that gave God the opportunity to explain to me why I needed to be Blameless. It was God's grace that wouldn't let me ingnore the idea of "being blameless" and why i needed to be. 

What are these words that the Holy Spirit calls us to be?

Pursuit of Wisdom

Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.

You're unique. You're social. What are your needs? 49 character traits to understand calling.

The esoteric apprentice??

To gain wisdom, knowledge, and understanding from the Bible, start with Proverbs 9-10 and Proverbs 2:6, which state that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. You can also find verses like Proverbs 4:7, which encourages acquiring wisdom and understanding, and Proverbs 3:13-14, which calls finding them a blessing.

Key Biblical Principles for Gaining Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding
Fear the Lord:
The fear of the Lord is the foundation for wisdom, providing the right perspective and a proper relationship with God.

Ask God:The Bible teaches that the Lord gives wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, so you should ask Him for them.

Study God's Word:
The Bible itself is a source for gaining these qualities, with Proverbs 2:6 stating that knowledge and understanding come from the Lord's mouth.

Prioritize Wisdom:
Proverbs 4 emphasizes that wisdom is the principal thing, and it is worth pursuing at any cost.

Embrace It:
Like a person, the Bible uses "she" to describe wisdom, urging you not to forsake her but to embrace and love her.

Steps to Apply These Principles
Start with Proverbs:
Read the book of Proverbs, which contains many teachings on acquiring wisdom and understanding.

Pray for Guidance:
Seek God's help to understand His Word and to apply its truths to your life.

What You Learn:
Use the knowledge and understanding you gain with good judgment and discernment to navigate life's challenges. NO!

PROVERBS 3:5-7

THE FEED BACK LOOP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!

Think About Your Thoughts

Do you ever think about your thoughts? It is an important question to consider. Especially when you realize that your thoughts form your ideas and it is your ideas that form your beliefs and your beliefs form your decision-making. And your decision making forms your destiny?

2 Cor. 10:3-5 Modern English Version

 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, 5 casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

Romans 8:5-6 [Full Chapter]

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

Philippians 4:6-8 New International Version (NIV)

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 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.

This is why the Bible says that we should take every thought captive to the lordship of Jesus Christ. What does that even mean? When you take someone captive, they become your prisoner, they have to do what you tell them to do. This is the idea behind taking every thought captive to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Your thoughts become a prisoner to that Lordship.

Why is this important? It's because some of your thoughts are not your own. What am I getting at? The Bible talks about a spiritual battle and we all engage in this warfare, this spiritual warfare has been going on since the beginning. Whether you believe in it or not, you cannot but be a participant.

Being Led by the Holy Spirit

Isaiah 30:21

New International Version

21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

A light to my path, a lamp to my foot steps

Walk in the Spirit 

Knowledge > Understanding > Wisdom.

The feedback loop of the Holy Spirit. 

• To acquire knowledge is to be inquisitive.
• To be inquisitive is to be humble. 
• To be humble is to know the truth. 
• To know the truth is to trust in God. 
• To trust in God is to be wise. 
• To be wise is to acquire knowledge." 

Proverbs 9:9 Correct a wise man and he becomes wiser still. 

Proverbs 9:10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 

John 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 

Matthew 10:19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.

Proverbs 18:15: "The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out". 

Proverbs 1:5: "Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance," 

Matthew 7:7-8: "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened". 

James 1:5: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him". 

https://www.randolphbrown.com/2022/03/thinking-about-your-thoughts-feedback.html

listen... to your thoughts.

What is a "Quiet Time"?

Who Am I? (Revisited) in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.

Original post May 19, 2012 | Updated for 2025

🕰️ Then...

“Who I think I am is brought into focus by the interpretation of my perception (5 Senses), which results from my perspective of what exists. This perspective is informed by truth or lies…”

“Is your perspective of reality interpreted from your limited perception? Then you have reasons to be uncertain about anything you decide. Or do you rely on information from a perspective higher than your own—a perception not limited to the ‘here and now’?”

Back in 2012, I had just started an online course in Artificial Intelligence. One lesson stood out to me in particular. It was about uncertainty—what to do when you don’t know what to do. The course listed these five causes of uncertainty in AI decision-making:

• Sensor Limits: Can't see it all.
• Stochastic Environment: Too many variables.
• Adversaries: Enemies working against success.
• Laziness: Mental shortcuts and incomplete data.
• Ignorance: Not knowing—and not caring.

As I read that list, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of it. These weren’t just challenges for machines—they were a picture of what it’s like to live in a broken world, trying to make sense of life with limited vision, while navigating a battlefield of lies and spiritual warfare.

In the blog post back then I was asking, "what is the source of your information?"

💡 Now...

Today, more than a decade later, I’m still asking that question—but with a deeper understanding.

I now see that probabilistic reasoning—whether in AI or human life—is an attempt to navigate the fog of uncertainty by calculating rather than trusting. It operates within the bounds of limited perception, variable outcomes, and incomplete knowledge. But biblical faith invites us into something more.

🔁 From Probabilities to Providence

• Where probability says, “This might work,”
• Faith says, “God has already gone before me.” (Deut. 31:8)
• Where AI says, “Too many variables,”
• God says, “I know the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10).
• Where the world says, “Follow your instincts,”
• God says, “Lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5–6).

🔍 What Is Biblical Faith?

Biblical faith is relational trust in the One who sees beyond your perception, knows your true identity, and directs your steps even when you don’t know what to do.

“For now we see through a glass, darkly… but then we shall see face to face.” — 1 Corinthians 13:12

"The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. — Proverbs 16:9

Your identity is not formed by your interpretation of your five senses—it is revealed by your Creator. The truth of who you are is not something you guess at; it’s something you receive:

“To all who received Him… He gave the right [exousia – authority] to become children of God.” — John 1:12

🧭 Walking as a Fully Actualized Kingdom Saint

My goal is to overcome all the things that hinder me from becoming the man God created me to be, I now know:

• I AM who God says I am — redeemed, adopted, filled, and purposed.
• So I'll BE who He created me to be — holy, blameless, and fruitful in Christ.
• And from that place, I can DO the works prepared for me — empowered by the Spirit, not driven by fear or uncertainty.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” — Ephesians 2:10

I am reminded often of what Paul said about himself in Philippians...

📖 Philippians 3:12–16 (ESV)

12. “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
14. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.”

🔚 Final Word

If AI systems struggle with “what to do when they don’t know what to do,” how much more should we humbly acknowledge our dependence on the One who created us?

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” — John 10:27

When you don’t know what to do, the question isn’t What’s most likely to work? It’s Who do I trust to lead me through this?

Not a probability. A Person.

Not a calculated guess. A guiding Shepherd.

Not an AI. But the I AM.

Ecclesiastes Summed-up by Proverbs 3:5-6

If you’ve ever read through Ecclesiastes, you may have walked away wondering: What’s the point of it all?

Solomon—the wisest man who ever lived—painstakingly records his search for meaning under the sun. He tries wealth, pleasure, work, knowledge, and even wisdom itself, only to conclude that all is HEVEL (Hebrew for “vapor,” “vanity,” or “meaningless”). His relentless honesty reveals the emptiness of life when it’s lived apart from God.

But hidden within Ecclesiastes is a whisper, a clue, a redirection: "Remember your Creator" (Eccl. 12:1). In the end, Solomon affirms, “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Eccl. 12:13).

That’s where Proverbs 3:5–6 comes in—not as a contradiction, but as a culmination. It is the answer to the search Ecclesiastes describes.

Solomon wrote both.

In Proverbs, he gives us the key to avoid a life of chasing the wind:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart” – not some of it. All of it.
“Do not lean on your own understanding” – the very understanding that Ecclesiastes shows us is insufficient.

• “In all your ways acknowledge Him” – because apart from Him, nothing has lasting meaning.
• “And He will direct your paths” – straight into purpose, joy, and eternal perspective.

Ecclesiastes is a warning!

Proverbs 3:5-6 is the way forward.

Where one reveals the problem of self-reliance, the other reveals the solution; of surrender. One shows us the futility of wisdom without God; the other teaches us the fruit of wisdom with God.

But when we come to trust the Lord fully and let go of the illusion of control, we begin to walk in the fullness of His guidance, provision, and care.

That’s not meaningless. That’s eternal.

The Danger of Being Well Equipped.

There’s an insidious danger in being “well equipped.” It’s the danger of trusting in the very tools, traditions, and truths we’ve accumulated rather than in the God who provides them.

This image of Jesus standing before a group of religious leaders—clothed in the garments of power, surrounded by the trappings of tradition—captures the tension perfectly. 

These men knew the Scriptures. They were trained, respected, and confident in their position. Yet when the Living Word stood in front of them, they couldn't recognize Him. Why? Because their trust was in their equipment.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” — Proverbs 3:5

We all carry tools we’ve picked up on our journey: our knowledge, experience, training, or even our ministry routines. These things aren’t inherently wrong. But when we lean on them instead of leaning on the Lord, they become stumbling blocks instead of stepping stones.

The Pharisees weren’t evil because they studied Scripture or upheld tradition. The problem was their confidence had shifted. Their identity and authority were no longer grounded in a relationship with God but in their role, their robes, and their rules.

The apostle Paul had once been one of them. But after encountering Jesus, he wrote:

“If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more… But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.” — Philippians 3:4,7

Paul saw it: trusting in our qualifications, knowledge, or even our past faithfulness can keep us from present dependence. In the Kingdom, being well equipped is not wrong—but trusting in our equipment rather than the Equip**per** is.

So let’s ask ourselves:
- Are we walking by faith today, or by familiar tools?
- Are we listening for the Spirit, or leaning on our past experiences?
- Are we resting in relationship or relying on reputation?

God’s strategic will isn't revealed to the most “qualified”—it’s revealed to those who trust Him enough to follow, even when they feel unequipped.

May we become people who lay down our pride, our platforms, and even our preparedness to walk in radical dependence on Jesus.

Let us not be like the well-equipped who miss the One they’ve been waiting for. Instead, let us be like the child who says, “I can’t do this without You, Lord.” Because in His presence, that confession becomes our greatest strength.

Walking by Biblical Principles vs. Walking in the Holy Spirit.

While biblical principles are foundational, they were never meant to replace intimate dependence on God. Instead, they serve as guardrails to ensure our relationship with Him stays on course. But living as a "Fully Actualized Kingdom Saint" means moving beyond just principles to a dynamic, moment-by-moment obedience to the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

1. Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trusting God Over Our Own Understanding

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

This passage isn’t just about a general trust in God but about actively recognizing His presence and guidance in everything. If we truly acknowledge God in all our ways, it implies:

• Discerning His Presence: We must develop the spiritual sensitivity to recognize when He is leading.

• Understanding the Battle: There is another voice (the enemy, our flesh) trying to hinder our obedience. If we aren’t intentional about seeking God’s guidance, we may mistake our own reasoning for His will.

2. Jesus’ Example – Only Saying and Doing What the Father Revealed

Jesus lived in absolute dependence on the Father. He said:

• "The Son can do nothing of Himself, but only what He sees the Father doing" (John 5:19).

• "I do nothing on My own but speak just what the Father has taught Me" (John 8:28).

This is the essence of walking in the Spirit—not merely following biblical principles as static rules, but responding to the living voice of God. Jesus, though He knew the Scriptures perfectly, did not simply apply them apart from the Father’s direct guidance.

3. Continuous Dependence – Pray Without Ceasing & Taking Thoughts Captive

• "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17). This means keeping an ongoing, active awareness of God's presence—not just saying prayers, but being in a constant state of listening and responding to Him.

• "Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor. 10:5). We must not let our minds operate independently from the Holy Spirit. Even good ideas, if they are not from God, can become distractions.

• "In that very hour, it will be given to you" (Luke 12:12). This reinforces the idea that the Holy Spirit is our moment-by-moment guide. We don’t have to rely solely on principles or past knowledge; God gives fresh revelation for each situation.

4. The Great Commission – Are We Making Disciples of Christ or Disciples of Ourselves?

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them…and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you" (Matt. 28:19-20).

The danger today is that instead of making disciples of Christ, many churches and teachers unintentionally make disciples of themselves—reproducing their own understanding, methods, and theological systems rather than leading people into a living, Spirit-led relationship with Jesus.

• Biblical principles are good, but walking in the Holy Spirit is better.

• Principles can be learned, but the Spirit must be followed.

• Principles can be taught intellectually, but the Spirit must be discerned through intimate relationship.

Jesus didn’t send the disciples out with a systematic theology textbook. He sent them with the Holy Spirit. When we disciple others, our goal should be to lead them into a living, Spirit-filled relationship with Christ, not just teach them principles.

5. Fully Actualized Kingdom Saints – Walking in the Spirit

To be a fully actualized Kingdom Saint, we must:

• Acknowledge God in all our ways (Prov. 3:5-6). Recognizing His active guidance, not just assuming we know what to do.

• See and do what the Father is doing (John 5:19). Looking for His present activity and aligning with it.

• Speak what He is speaking (John 8:28). Not just teaching principles, but being led by the Spirit in what we say.

• Pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17). Staying in constant communion with the Lord.

• Take thoughts captive (2 Cor. 10:5). Not letting our own understanding dictate our decisions.

• Make disciples of Christ, not ourselves (Matt. 28:19-20). Teaching others to walk with the Spirit, not just follow rules.

Conclusion: The Harder but Higher Path

“It’s much harder to walk in the Holy Spirit and only do what He wants us to do.” But that is the path of true discipleship. Principles are easy to apply in our own strength, but true faith requires radical dependence on God’s voice.

This is the core of God’s Strategic Will—to bring us into a relationship where we walk in His guidance, provision, and care every moment. Being a Fully Actualized Kingdom Saint means being fully yielded to His Spirit, trusting Him completely, and letting Him direct every step.