Is the glass half empty or is it half full?

One person looks at the problem, another focuses on the solution

Some say this is right, others say that is wrong….

But God is MORE than an optimist, and His standard of right and wrong is HIGHER than any relative measure. 

How do we know how God thinks and can we think like Him? 

Many people don’t believe we can know what God “thinks” and therefore could not ever attain thinking like Him, professing we can only try to live up to a certain moral code of ethics and be a good person.  Some have taken the following scripture to validate this reasoning. 

1 Corinthians 2:11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

However, the next verse tells us exactly how we can know God’s thoughts. 

1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.

This is NOT done through natural wisdom or understanding.  It is only by the Spirit of God Himself. 

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

It was prophesied in Jeremiah 31:34, “No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.”

The apostle John talks about the fulfillment of this in 1 John 2:27, But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true–it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.

God has equipped every born-again believer to not only understand how He thinks, but to think exactly the same way.  How?  Through our born again spirit-where the Spirit of God is.  We have the Spirit of God in us.  As born again children of God, we have the mind of Christ. 

1 Corinthians 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

But this is in our spirit.  How do we think like God in our natural mind?  It all begins by renewing our mind to the truth of what is already known in our spirit. 

Renew the mind

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Romans 8:6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

Proverbs 4:20-23 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their flesh.  Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.

Jesus tells us His Words gives life.  It is not through our flesh or natural thinking, which we come to know God or His will.    

John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

Renewing the mind is not a one-time event, and it isn’t about acquiring scriptural knowledge.  It’s only when the Word you know changes the very depth of your thinking to line up with God’s that it transforms your mind and causes you to “think” like God. 

Abide in the Word

John 15:5-8 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.  If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

A heart that is connected to the Spirit of God within him allows the Word of God to change his believing, thinking, and acting to line up with God. 

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Another translation says to “meditate on these things.” 

We judge these things by the Word of God. 

Thinking like God is being Word-minded and, word-minded is spiritual mindedness.

If you are not thinking in line with the Word, you are not thinking like God.  As the apostle Paul says (2 Corinthians 7:10), with a godly sorrow repent (change the way you think), and agree with God.  It’s as simple as that!  Amen

For more about true repentance, see my article, “What is true repentance.”