Stimulate Your Thinking
How forgetful are you?
Verse of the Day
“This is my second letter to you, dear friends, and in both of them I have tried to stimulate your wholesome thinking and refresh your memory.”
Today’s Devotional
Have you ever seen a commercial on TV and then later that day you find yourself thinking about or craving whatever was being advertised? Or have you ever heard someone talk about a vacation they took and when you get home you start researching vacation rentals in that location? Have you ever read something that was a completely new concept to you and then you noticed that the new concept started to take root in how you think about a certain subject?
I can answer affirmatively to all of the above questions. My husband can definitely answer “yes” to the vacation question. Why? Because we, as humans – all of us, are suggestible. And yes, some people are more suggestible than others. We are suggestible in opinions, patterns of speech, activities, ideas, even thoughts. Being suggestible can actually be a good thing. It means you are open-minded to the ideas and opinions of others. As long as you are weighing those ideas and opinions against Godly wisdom.
Since we are suggestible creatures, it makes sense that we would need to be reminded of things, because we are also terribly forgetful. Have you ever wondered why we are so forgetful? I did some research. And one of the most interesting things I read was something called “decay theory”. Verywellmind.com sites, “According to this theory, a memory trace is created every time a new theory is formed. Decay theory suggests that over time, these memory traces begin to fade and disappear. If the information is not retrieved and rehearsed, it will eventually be lost. Research also suggests that the brain actively prunes memories that become unused, a process that is known as active forgetting. As memories accumulate, those that are not retrieved eventually become lost.”
This theory becomes very convicting with regard to our faith. When we are actively reading the Word and reminding ourselves of God’s promises, we won’t need as many reminders – though we won’t likely turn them down because these reminders will further cement these truths in our minds. When we allow “interference”, the truths of God may begin to fade or disappear.
In today’s verse, Peter is telling us of the importance of Godly reminders and the value of things that stimulate wholesome thinking. This is why people who have been faithful followers of Jesus for many years continue to attend church. This is why people in recovery with decades of sobriety continue to attend recovery meetings. God knows that we need reminders. God knows that we need help to stimulate the kind of thinking that points us to Him.
The Word and time with God are the most powerful tools I know to reshape and stimulate our thinking. But God, in His goodness, offers many other tools as well to stimulate and refresh our thinking. Sermons, praise music, making gratitude lists, talking with another believer, reading Godly literature. The writers of the New Testament knew the value of reminders. We need help to remember God’s love for us. We need reminders of God’s truth and His trustworthiness. We need help to remember the glory of heaven. Otherwise, the duties of today will begin to decay these beautiful truths. And if there is one reminder we need every single day, it’s this: God loves you exactly how you are right now. And He loves you enough not to leave you there.
Journal Prompts
Answer only the questions that seem relevant to you today.
When have you been impacted by a powerful reminder?
What truths of God do you struggle to remember?
What can you do today to stimulate your thinking toward God?
How can you carve out a little more time today for something that might remind you of God’s love for you and His purpose for you?