DGNC: My Think Thoughts

It was fantastic going to this years Desiring God National Conference. For my own soul I needed it. It was good to get under some other Bible teachers and here what the Lord had put on their heart. The Lord was faithful to encourage, convict and challenge me through out this conference. Here are some of my take aways.

Session 1: The battle for your mind with Rick Warren
I must fight to renew my mind daily. Each moment I must test every thought and take it captive and make it obedient to Christ. Daily I need to feed and think over the Word. I must guard my mind from all trash, and think upon what is true and pure. I need to strive to think more, learn more, and pray more in hopes that I would trust God more, and as I trust and obey God would continue to make my path straight.

Session 2: Kevin DeYoung, Tullian Tchividjian, N.D. Wilson, Matt Perman and John Piper Q&A time
I must think over what I do, say, and think daily! If I am going to be a biblical thinker then I must think and dwell upon the Word of God. I must find others to think and talk with. Basically I need accountability in my life. Moment by moment I should connect my faith in Christ to what I am doing. Loving and knowing Christ more will help me to imitate Him and walk as He did. God fearfully and wonderfully made me, so just be me and find my shape. God will test to see if I am for self or Christ. The point is be real, genuine, open and transparent.

Session 3: Thinking Deeply in the Ocean of Revelation: The Bible and the Life of the Mind with R.C. Sproul
I must trust God, He doesn't need my help. To think that the universe and all man (all that is) was created and moves because of God will help me understand that He doesn't need my works. Yes He did prepare good works for me to do, but its not about me. I can only give myself to be used by God, and He may chose not to use me. God will do all that He pleases. To know that I live, move and have my being in God is reason enough to trust Him in all things. Everything except God is changing. I will never find meaning in reality outside of God, His Son, and His Word.

Session 4: Thinking for the Sake of Global Faithfulness: Confronting Islam with the Mind of Christ with Thabiti Anyabwile I must not fear man, but think upon God's providence and protection and fear Him alone. When fear takes control, thinking doesn't. Thinking is not the same as reaction. I must think through what I believe in doctrine/theology and understand what and why I believe what I believe. Thinking is not the same as feeling. I must submit my heart to the authority of God's Word. I must remember the gospel, the Word of God has power to make one new in Christ. As I live in this world I must be a thinker that is wise and pure. I must remember my reward and what my purpose in this world is, and that is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Because God is sovereign I can throw away my comfort and safety. I can trust Him.

Session 5: The Way the World Thinks: Meeting the Natural Mind—in the Mirror and in the Market Place with Al Mohler
I must be thinking about my thinking. I need to remember where my thinking leads me I am accountable for it. My thinking must be grounded from the Word of God. There is a difference between a regenerate mind and a unregenerate mind. I must strive to renew my mind. I can't trust myself as my reason was corrupted at the fall. I must take every thought to Christ. I must look to Jesus Christ in all my thoughts and put them up against the Word of God.

Session 6: Speaker Panel with Piper, Anyabwile, Chan, and Mohler
In my thinking I must remember that God is in control. God fits us with weaknesses and does what He does to break us. Our theology is meant to flatten us. God is gonna do what He is gonna do. I must concentrate and think in my reading and study of God's Word so that I can learn more about God, and in all my learning not settle for anything less then loving God. I must be a praying people, asking God to grant what He commands!

Session 7: Think Hard, Stay Humble: The Life of the Mind and the Peril of Pride with Francis Chan
I must think about my brothers and sisters, and man in this fallen world. I want to be more mindful of where people are on the Way, and think about others and how I can help them in this life. I hope the Lord will increase the sorrow and anguish for people in my heart for my family, my church family, God's people, all people that they would know Christ for salvation. In all I do I must remember daily that love builds up, not tear down. Knowledge in God's eyes is me loving others for their good. We can know a lot and still be worthless. I must pray that God would grow me in the grace of God, and my love for people. I can stay humble by fearing the Lord and loving others.

Session 8: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God with John Piper
I left this conference knowing that my thinking can cause me to love God more and people more. Thinking is very important. If I am not loving people then I have to ask myself if I am loving God most. My final thoughts are I don't want to waste my mind. I must understand what the Word says about the human being and there condition. How we think is very important because wrong thinking leads to wrong actions. If my knowledge does not grow my love for God which flows out for a love to people then I don't have true knowledge. I must use my mind as a means of treasuring God. Just to think is not the point. Our thinking should lead to action that pleases God. If I really love Jesus it will change my way of life towards God and people. I must focus my mind on the death of Jesus for my sins. May I only boast in Christ and never my self.