{"id":2982,"date":"2023-09-12T22:44:38","date_gmt":"2023-09-13T02:44:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/?p=2982"},"modified":"2023-09-12T22:44:38","modified_gmt":"2023-09-13T02:44:38","slug":"a-penny-for-your-thoughts-lord","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/devotional\/a-penny-for-your-thoughts-lord\/","title":{"rendered":"A Penny for Your Thoughts, Lord"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A Penny for Your Thoughts, Lord?<\/h1>\n\n\n
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Today I was thinking about what the Lord has on His mind… \u201cA penny for your thoughts, Lord?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The saying “a penny for your thoughts” is an old English idiom. The usage of this phrase dates as far back as the Middle Ages as a regular part of English conversation. It is used for politely asking a quiet and contemplative person who appears deep in thought to volunteer what is on their mind at that moment. I know that my wife and I have used this expression with each other on many occasions. It is only natural to want to know what is on the mind of someone you love. God designed us this way. It is just what love does. How much more should we want to know what is on God’s mind because His thoughts are “very deep”<\/em><\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Psalm 92:5\nO Lord, how great are Your works!\nYour thoughts are very deep<\/strong>.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Throughout the Bible, God unfolds His mind for us \u201chere a little and there a little\u201d (Isa 28:10)<\/em>. God passionately wants us to know Him, and for that reason, He designed man with \u201ceternity in his heart\u201d (Eccl 3:14)<\/em> so that we could never be totally satisfied without knowing Him more and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In all the Bible, there is no other portion of Scripture like Psalms. It is a magnificent songbook of prayer, praise, and worship in which we can discover in wonderful ways what is on God\u2019s mind. Though penned by David, the \u201csweet Psalmist of Israel\u201d (2 Sam 23:1-2)<\/em>, and a few other men, Psalms is entirely authored<\/em><\/strong> by the Holy Spirit (as is all of God\u2019s Word \u2013 2 Pet 1:20-21)<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2 Samuel 23:1-2\nNow these are the last words of David.\nThus says David the son of Jesse;\nThus says the man raised up on high,\nThe anointed of the God of Jacob,\nAnd the sweet psalmist of Israel:\n\u201cThe Spirit of the Lord spoke by me,\nAnd His Word was on my tongue.<\/strong>\u201d<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Now throughout the Old Testament, we see the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity, during Creation (Gen 1:1), and moving upon different ones of God’s people.  However, on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was sent for a very specific purpose: to prepare a Bride (the Church) for Jesus Christ. It is the Spirit’s urgent mission to lead us \u201cinto all truth\u201d and unveil more and more of who Jesus is, what He did, what He is doing, and what is on His mind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
John 16:13-14\nHowever, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth\u2026\nHe will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare [\u201creveal (AMP) reveal, disclose, transmit\u201d \u2013Amplified Bible]<\/em> it to you.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
1 Corinthians 2:9-10\nBut as it is written:\n\u201cEye has not seen, nor ear heard,\nNor have entered into the heart of man\nThe things which God has prepared for those who love Him.\u201d\nBut GOD HAS REVEALED THEM TO US through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the DEEP THINGS<\/strong> of God.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
In Psalms, the Holy Spirit was quite pleased to unveil many of God\u2019s most intimate thoughts toward those who seek Him. A \u201cpenny\u201d for God\u2019s thoughts goes a long way in this precious book placed right in the center of the Bible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Never Any Fickleness!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The word for \u201cthought\u201d in Hebrew can also be translated as \u201cintention, purpose, aim, plans.\u201d Most of us have experienced the frustration of someone making elaborate and even costly plans with us, only to change their mind at the last minute. We would usually call such a person “fickle.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One thing is absolutely certain for all time and eternity: God is not fickle-minded! He does not feel one way on Monday and another way on Friday! He never makes a plan or a promise that He does not keep. God is omnipotent and He can do what He pleases, but there is one thing that is absolutely impossible for God:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Titus 1:2\nIn hope of eternal life which God, WHO CANNOT LIE<\/strong>, promised before time began.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
In the Scriptures, there are two aspects<\/strong> of God\u2019s character revealed which help us understand that He does not flip-flop in His thinking:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(1) His Immutability<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
First of all, Scripture declares that God is immutable<\/strong>. God can change the heavens and the earth, but He Himself is not among the things which He changes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Psalm 102:25-27\nOf old You laid the foundation of the earth,\nAnd the heavens are the work of Your hands.\nThey will perish, BUT YOU WILL ENDURE<\/strong>;\nYes, they will all grow old like a garment;\nLike a cloak You will change them,\nAnd they will be changed.\nBUT YOU ARE THE SAME<\/strong>,\nAnd Your years will have no end.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Malachi 3:6 (KJV)\nFor I am the Lord, I CHANGE NOT<\/strong>.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
If God was One given to changeability in any way, it would completely destabilize our ability to trust in Him and His promises. His faithfulness would be utterly compromised. For this reason, in James, we are urged not to err in our thinking concerning God\u2019s goodness and His unchangeability:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
James 1:16-17 (KJV)\nDo not err [\u201cor be deceived\u201d NKJV], my beloved brethren.\nEvery GOOD GIFT<\/strong> and every perfect gift is from above,\nAnd cometh down from the Father of lights,\nWith whom is NO VARIABLENESS, NEITHER SHADOW OF TURNING<\/strong>.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
(2) His Omniscience<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Secondly, the Scriptures reveal that God is omniscient<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Humanly speaking, one\u2019s change of mind is always due to obtaining new knowledge. However, our God is \u201cperfect in knowledge\u201d (Job 37:16)<\/em>, and He \u201cknows ALL things\u201d (1 John 3:20)<\/em>. Therefore, He will never discover any extra knowledge that would alter His way of thinking:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Acts 15:18\nKnown to God from eternity are ALL<\/em><\/strong> His works.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Some have tried explaining the Gospel by declaring that since Plan A did not work with Adam and Eve, God switched to \u201cPlan B\u201d and sent His only Son to die for humankind. However, this would be a misrepresentation of God\u2019s character. God did not change His mind. God has always been and always will be on \u201cPlan A.\u201d In God\u2019s foreknowledge, Jesus is the \u201cLamb slain before the foundation of the world\u201d (Rev 13:8)<\/em>, as Peter also confirms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1 Peter 1:18-20
Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold\u2026
But with the precious Blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
He indeed was foreordained BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, but was manifest in these last times for you.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Omniscience can neither be augmented nor diminished. Therefore, God’s Omniscience rules out the idea that He could ever change His mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Psalm 33:11\nThe counsel of the Lord stands forever,\nThe plans<\/strong> [thoughts, intention, purpose, aim]<\/em> of His heart to all generations.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
God never has and never will have the need to change His mind. There is absolutely nothing “fickle” about our God. We can trust Him forever! Hallelujah!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Tuning Our Thoughts to His Thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Evidence that our understanding of God’s thoughts is maturing is that we’ll experience a growing willingness to surrender our thoughts and abandon our lives in love unto Him \u201cwho first loves us.\u201d<\/em> After David describes all of God\u2019s many precious thoughts (Psalm 139:17-18), he then opens up His thoughts and heart to God:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Psalms 139:23-24 (KJV)\nSearch me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts<\/strong>:\nAnd see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Other Scriptures also tell us the importance of surrendering our thoughts to God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Proverbs 16:3\nCommit your works to the Lord,\nAnd your thoughts<\/strong> will be established.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
2 Corinthians 10:5\n\u2026bringing every thought<\/strong> into captivity to the obedience of Christ.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Psalm 119:113 (KJV)\nI hate vain thoughts<\/strong>: but thy law do I love.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Psalm 119:59 (KJV)\nI thought<\/strong> on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
God literally invites us to think like He thinks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Philippians 2:5\nLet this mind<\/strong> be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
1 Corinthians 2:16\nFor \u201cwho has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?\u201d But we have the mind<\/strong> of Christ.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
The First and Great Commandment \u2013 to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind<\/strong> \u2013 is so much easier to obey when we discover in the Word that God first loved us with all His heart, all His soul, and ALL His mind<\/strong> (Deu 6:5; Mat 22:37-38; 1 John 4:19)<\/em>. And everything God does for us is with His ALL:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jeremiah 32:40-41\nAnd I will make an everlasting covenant with them\u2026\nYes, I will rejoice over them to do them good,\nAnd I will assuredly plant them in this land,\nwith ALL <\/em>My heart<\/strong> and with ALL<\/em> My soul<\/strong>.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Adam and Eve were originally created and skillfully designed to grow and mature into thinking as God thinks. Sadly, their disobedience and sin in the Garden of Eden corrupted that design in mankind. But, oh, how God loves us! The plentiful redemption that God purchased on the Cross through His Son, Jesus Christ, is all we need to be restored. Once a person has been born again, baptized in water, and baptized with the Holy Spirit, God begins to transform us by the renewing our minds:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Colossians 1:21\nAnd you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind<\/strong> by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Colossians 3:1-2\nIf then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.\nSet your mind<\/strong> on things above, not on things on the earth.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Romans 8:5-6\nFor those who live according to the flesh set their minds<\/strong> on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.\nFor to be carnally minded is death, but to be SPIRITUALLY MINDED<\/strong> is LIFE and PEACE.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Romans 12:1-2\nI beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.\nAnd do not be conformed to this world, but be TRANSFORMED<\/strong> by the RENEWING<\/strong> of your MIND<\/strong>, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Ephesians 4:23-24
Be renewed in the spirit of your mind<\/strong>,
And that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Fretting Fades Away<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Another benefit of studying Scripture to learn what is on God\u2019s mind is that doubt, anxiety, and worry all begin to fade away like shadows when the morning sun begins to shine:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Psalm 94:18-19 (KJV)\nWhen I said, My foot slippeth; Thy mercy, O Lord, held me up.\nIn the multitude of my thoughts<\/strong> [\u201canxieties\u201d \u2013 NKJV] within me Thy comforts delight my soul.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Keeping our mind \u201cstayed\u201d on God\u2019s thoughts as found in His Word will cultivate a trust and assurance in God which will keep us in \u201cperfect peace\u201d:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Isaiah 26:3\nYou will keep him in perfect peace,\nWhose mind<\/strong> is stayed on You,\nBecause he trusts in You.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
And that \u201cpeace that passes all understanding”<\/em> will, in turn, preserve our hearts and minds in Christ:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Philippians 4:6-7\nBe anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;\nAnd the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds<\/strong> through Christ Jesus.<\/pre>\n\n\n
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God NEVER Daydreams<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is nothing vain or empty about God’s thoughts. No one has ever caught Him daydreaming! Every single thought of His results in action. God thinks. God speaks what He thinks. And what God thinks and speaks will come to pass!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Isaiah 14:24\nThe Lord of hosts has sworn, saying,\n\u201cSurely, as I have thought<\/strong>, so it shall come to pass,\nAnd as I have purposed, so it shall stand.\u201d<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Isaiah 55:8-11\n\u201cFor My thoughts<\/strong> are not your thoughts,\nNor are your ways My ways,\u201d says the LORD.\n\u201cFor as the heavens are higher than the earth,\nSo are My ways higher than your ways,\nAnd My thoughts<\/strong> than your thoughts.\nFor as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,\nAnd do not return there,\nBut water the earth,\nAnd make it bring forth and bud,\nThat it may give seed to the sower\nAnd bread to the eater,\nSo shall My Word be that goes forth from My mouth;\nIt shall not return to Me void,\nBut it shall accomplish what I please,\nAnd it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.\u201d<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
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God\u2019s Thoughts are Toward Us<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Over our past 34 years of marriage, I remember precious times when I would catch my wonderful wife staring blankly with a quiet, sweet state of reflection upon her face. Not wanting to startle her, I would gently whisper in her ear, “Hey, Tica, whatcha thinking about?” Oh, how it thrilled my heart when she would turn, look directly at me with her big, brown, Spanish eyes, and say, “You, David! I am thinking about You!” Wow! Whatever else may have been going on that day in my life immediately slipped out the back door! What beautiful, restful assurance her words would flood my heart and mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Should it be any different between us and our Beloved Bridegroom, Jesus? Just ask Him and find out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Dear Jesus, whatcha thinking about? What’s on Your mind right now?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And Jesus turns and looks at us with His fiery eyes of love and says quietly, yet passionately, “You! You are on my mind.” Hallelujah!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Well, it seems that Psalmist David also took time to ask, “A penny for Your thoughts, Lord?” And look what he discovered:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Psalm 40:17\nBut I am poor and needy;\nYet the Lord thinks<\/strong> upon me.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Psalm 8:4\nWhat is man that You are mindful<\/strong> of him,\nAnd the son of man that You visit him?<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Job dives in even deeper. He declares that the trials through which he found himself are proof that God sets His heart upon mankind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Job 7:17-18\nWhat is man, that You should exalt him,\nThat You should set Your heart<\/strong> on him,\nThat You should visit him every morning,\nAnd test him every moment?<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Yet another penny for God\u2019s thoughts reveals He has an innumerable multitude of thoughts toward us, and every one of those thoughts is precious:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Psalms 40:5\nMany, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works\nWhich You have done;\nAnd Your thoughts toward us<\/strong>\nCannot be recounted to You in order;\nIf I would declare and speak of them,\nThey are more than can be numbered.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Psalm 139:17-18
How *PRECIOUS*<\/strong> also are Your thoughts <\/strong>to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Hebrew, the word \u201cprecious\u201d<\/em> literally means \u201cto be weighty.\u201d It <\/em>can also be translated as \u201cto esteem, to be prized, to be valuable, to be costly.\u201d<\/em> What an excellent way to describe God\u2019s thoughts toward us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Jeremiah, we discover even more about the precious thoughts of God\u2019s marvelous mind toward us:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jeremiah 29:11\nFor I know the thoughts<\/strong> [intention, purpose, aim, plans], that I think toward you, says the Lord,\nThoughts<\/strong> of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
When God says, \u201cI know the thoughts I think toward you,\u201d<\/em> it reveals that His thought processes are not random. Instead, they are wholly purposeful, sincerely strategic, and deeply intentional. Furthermore, they are thoughts for our peace [\u201cshalom\u201d] and a bright, hopeful future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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What a wonderful God! And what beautiful thoughts run through His marvelous mind!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What’s on Your mind today, dear Lord?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another penny for Your thoughts?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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A Penny for Your Thoughts, Lord? Today I was thinking about what the Lord has on His mind… \u201cA penny for your thoughts, Lord?\u201d The …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2994,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[5],"tags":[609,608,611,360,471,610,172,472],"class_list":["post-2982","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-devotional","tag-gods-mind","tag-gods-thoughts","tag-intent","tag-love-of-god","tag-mind","tag-plans","tag-purpose","tag-thoughts"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Penny-StacksBible-GlowSun_25757538_m-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1440&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pa8ofw-M6","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2982","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2982"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2982\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3010,"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2982\/revisions\/3010"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2994"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2982"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2982"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2982"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}