Some chuckled, while others appeared confused. "Stinking thinking leads to nasty actions." I said it in a ninth-grade Bible class when the subject came up while studying the believer's armour — particularly the helmet of salvation. And it does.

Helmets are important — for race car drivers, equestrian riders, motorcycle racers, football players, baseball batters, hockey players, and even bull wranglers. They protect one of the most important parts of our body: the brain. While the heart is of utmost importance — the ceasing of which essentially ends our bodily existence — brain damage affects body movement, decision making, and even the ability to personally function. More importantly, though we might not know the exact connection, it affects the mind as well.

Learning to do good requires wearing a helmet which Paul defines as salvation. "Our people must learn to do good." (Titus 3:14a NLT) "Put on salvation as your helmet." (Ephesians 6:17a NLT)

Once Christ is invited into our lives, we should don our helmet regularly, for there's another important part the mind plays. What we think, we feel, and then act upon. All actions ascend from moving on pleasant feelings that we've thought about — no matter how briefly. "I acted without thinking" isn't a true statement, though we often use it to excuse unwise actions.

Taking the Bible's advice is apropos:

Philippians 4:8b – Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (NLT)

Our minds are Satan's playground, and all temptation begins when he uses our sense receptors to feed our minds with things that are better avoided. Fortunately, God gives us the power to take these thoughts captive under the authority of Jesus' name. So let us each put on our helmet, and think thoughts that spur us on toward the holy living for which God designed us.

Prayer: Gracious God, we thank You for giving us power over our thoughts and therefore our actions. Guide us to wear our helmets that we might think on things that honour You and lead to right behaviour and attitudes. Amen.

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About the author:

Martin Wiles <mandmwiles@gmail.com>
Greenwood, South Carolina, USA
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