Hmmm… does this mean, “I believe”? And when I say, I believe, do I really mean, I think? Related they are but they aren’t the same. At least to me. For me, ‘I think’ means that I have come to a conclusion, a point of understanding leading to a decision and an act… BUT, I am still open to input. I can still tweak my ‘I think’ without any negative ramifications. Not so with I believe.
‘I believe’ is putting all of me behind what follows. It is making a declaration, a statement. Does it mean that it’s in cement? Never. ‘I believe’ can grow, can become more of a pillar or foundation with time. It says that I will stand on this, unequivocally, confidently, and without reservation. So is this just a fancy way of saying, ‘it’s relative’. Horrors… no! With every stand I take, I take fully and committed. HOWEVER, I will listen to your position when it differs and will take ‘under advisement’ to see how it blends or challenges or activates my belief. Remember, sometimes we say the same thing but have different meanings and sometimes we say different things and mean the same. It’s always in the semantics and definitions.
When I say ‘I think’ I try to say this as an option for others. I’m indicating my thinking, what I know and understand. It’s my pre-pretty much cement stage. I’m not ‘testing the waters’, because I’ve already done this. I have determined, based on my experience, how I will act. However, the point really is my foundation for assessing, coordinating, incorporating what I include as my criteria for determining my ‘I think’.
While we all may know how we determine whether or not we accept/incorporate a piece of data into our frame of reference, mindset; but do we understand what underscores this? Perhaps this is part of the reason we need to renew our minds?! This, renewing, was never an idle suggestion – it has always held a place of predominance. It is also an ongoing process. You don’t wake up one morning and tell yourself that this would be a good day to renew your mind (Romans 12:2) … once you begin the process it will be continuous.
I believe that the Lord created us with a mind that He expected us to use. However, we can always be mistaken or have only half truths but He expects us to be responsible for what we know and how we use this. At ALL time and in ALL situations. This means we need to renew and keep refining. Scripture speaks to our ‘I think’:
“Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value].” (Colossians 3:2, AMP)
“We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ,”
(2 Corinthians 10:5, AMP)“…whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart]. 9 The things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things [in daily life], and the God [who is the source] of peace and well-being will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8, AMP)
Renewing… I think… I believe are all part of who we are and how we go about being us. They all are also ‘in process’ since we are continually besieged from all sides with new information, challenges, temptations. Actually, there is very little that is in cement. Therefore, when we do act, we must confidently respond and act and continue. By the way… ‘confidently’ isn’t afraid of differing thoughts nd positions. Challenges are seen in the context of ‘iron sharpening iron’ (Proverbs 27:17). But also remember we have help on our way so we can do and be… our best.
