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FAITH: As a man thinketh

A column from Castlegar pastor Tom Kline
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Tom Kline is the pastor of Castlegar Baptist Church

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” – Psalms 1:1-3

It seems that we live in a day of unprecedented worry and anxiety. There is an unrest and nagging sense of dread that is plaguing our society. To be fair, there are many things going on in the world that are legitimate causes for concern and some fear is warranted. However, Jesus promises rest. He brings peace to the troubled heart.

The Bible speaks of a peace that passes all understanding. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”.

How do I have a calm heart in the midst of troubling circumstances? I don’t have a complete answer, but our verses above give us something important to consider. 

“Blessed is the man” the word blessed carries several ideas, one of those is “happy.” Happy is the person who is not following the ways of the ungodly, keeping company with sinners or hanging around the scorner; rather, he fills his mind with the Word of God. 

My pastor had a statement he would often say, “If you think right, you’ll live right, if you think wrong you’ll live wrong. Thinking is serious business.”

There is an obvious connection with the rise of social media and non-stop media in general, and the increased spirit of fear in our world. When we fill our minds with a constant diet of negative voices, it is no wonder we are stressed out.

Try spending time meditating upon the Scriptures. It might bring another crisis, but if it ultimately leads you to discover true saving faith in Jesus Christ, you’ll be greatly blessed. 

Tom Kline is the pastor of Castlegar Baptist Church