If evil was a college course, I would have had an "A".

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord , thoughts of peace, Not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV

He does not think thoughts of evil. When God thinks thoughts about us, toward us, about every detail of our lives, how can He not think thoughts of evil?

Pick five specific areas, details, about your life. Both things you do in open or in secret. Even the thing, or things, you want to hide most. Even from yourself.

With those things or areas of your life in mind, is it possible for you to not see it and think harshly of that area? Is it easy to not think or feel harsh judgement and disappointment in and toward yourself?

What do you feel and think about yourself, as a parent? What do you think or feel about yourself as a spouse?

Let's keep asking this as we go through multiple areas, and facets, of our inner self. What are your thoughts about yourself in regard to;

Your thoughts of yourself as an employee?

Your thoughts of yourself as a positive member of society?

Your thoughts of yourself as God's child?

Your thoughts of yourself as a leader?

Your thoughts of yourself as Holy?

Your thoughts of yourself as Pure?

Your thoughts of yourself as Righteous?

Your thoughts of yourself as Blameless?

Your thoughts of yourself as Perfect?

If we wrote down on one side of a page, "Our thoughts" for each of those questions. And on the other side, "God's thoughts". How would they differ?

God's words, and examples through Jesus, tell us we are now, pure, holy, blameless, Righteous. Mentally accepting these ideas is difficult to some. Yet I believe it's a paradigm shift we will benefit from.

Instead of allowing the wide chasm of distance to remain, between His thoughts toward us and our own, let's ask God to help our beliefs and thoughts to align with His. Let's allow Him to be our therapist and spend time hearing and getting to know His thoughts.

Some may have heard before, these ideas or "ways" in which God views us. Yet, I would propose that it's much more than a mental acknowledgement, or memorization, of these things that bring them into fruition. We need to know what His thoughts are toward us. But, equally as important, why and how can He know all the details about us and not have thoughts of evil about us?

If He doesn't, why do we? Who's thoughts have we been listening to?

Perhaps, just like the prostitute who was about to be stoned to death for her sin. She probably stood there, weeping. Thinking thoughts of evil about herself. Her thoughts may have sounded like this,

"I'm so disgusting. Even when I've tried to do good, I always end up doing the worst things. I can't help myself. I'm just horrible inside. I have evil inside. I've prayed and hoped it would go away. But it hasn't. I hate myself for it. I hurt people, and hurt myself. It's always been this way, and probably always will."

She'd finally been found out, caught, and was now getting what she deserved. The "cops" had caught her doing wrong, breaking the law, and had legal justification to stone her.

The cops, the people of the community, and the judges, were all there. Within their legal duty, they declared loudly her crimes and the facts that proved them. A reminder to her and a declaration to all the witnesses of why she was about to be stoned. Legally, through the process of their justice system, they stated the facts of evidence before fulfilling the required punishment.

At this point, maybe she didn't completely dread being stoned, being killed. Especially after her "sins", crimes, being declared publicly. She may have allowed her thoughts to think, "At least now I won't have to live so miserably with this curse that's inside of me. I'll finally be taken out of this dark, oppressive, life."

Her thoughts of herself were, "of evil". The thoughts and perceptions of her accusers were "of evil".

But, God.

God's thoughts were of hope, of good. Thoughts of a plan, and a good future. Thoughts and ways above both hers and her accusers. Jesus cancelled the death sentence that both her, and her accusers, agreed she was worthy of.

His words that followed were, "Go and sin no more". This wasn't a new, profound, idea that had never entered her mind before. Both she and all the accusers knew that law. She had probably, many times, numerous times, tried to "go and sin no more". What was different this time is that it wasn't just a repeating of a law. It was not just another repeated statement suggesting a more rigid and disciplined form of behavior modification.

This time, she saw and heard, she experienced, God's thoughts toward her. She had a revelation and proof, she saw a glimpse of how God saw her. His thoughts toward her were revealed. He did not think she should be punished for her "detestable" acts. He did not think the same thoughts or view her the same way she, and everyone else around her, did.

God's words, "Go and sin no more", were now heard with new ears. These words, that sound like a rule, a command, were prophetic words of empowerment. Because she saw and knew His thoughts toward her. She could now have new thoughts about herself as well. And with a new self identity, will always come a new self.

("New view, new you")

Let's ask God to help us hear and see His thoughts toward us. Ask for His thoughts to become our thoughts. So that we can hear His commands. But not in the form of unattainable rules.

Ask God to help us hear, in our spirits, the empowering ability, the life, that comes from everything God says. As we begin to know and think His thoughts toward us, we will have the ability to be, and live, in the reality of who He says we are as well.