This post was last updated on August 5, 2025

Day 198, Year 1

Understanding the Things in Your Mind

“A fool does not delight in understanding, But only in revealing his own mind.” (Proverbs 18:2 NASB) 

“Mind,” in Hebrew, is leb, which means “heart.” It also refers to the place where thoughts, motives, or emotions spring out. In my opinion, many people are fools because they do not know how to manage what arises in their hearts. In fact, people who are tempted by the devil can verify the devil’s thoughts in their hearts. While Adam and Eve accepted the devil’s proposal in their minds, Jesus rejected it. Accepting or rejecting temptation marks the difference between hell and heaven.

When a certain thought, desire, or emotion emerges, we should first understand it rather than express it. The first step to understanding, mentioned today, is to separate ourselves from our thoughts, desires, or emotions. In other words, we need to disown the thoughts and feelings that arise within or are being injected into us. If people do not separate themselves from their inner desires, they are likely to be dominated by emerging desires, etc., and subsequently commit many sins. Hence, even desires that come from God or naturally from our hearts need to be understood separately from ourselves and dealt with properly, not to mention the thoughts, desires, or emotions that stem from generational curses, parents, other people, societies, and even the devil. Is it not more vital for us to first separate all of them from ourselves, understand them one by one, and handle them according to God’s will?

How people respond to what arises from their hearts often reveals their inner situations, needs, strengths, or weaknesses. For example, sexual desires that emerge during adolescence are usually triggered by puberty or external stimuli. Many people know that it is impossible to fulfill all desires aroused at all times, but they only need to deal with them appropriately. Genesis chapter 1 documents that God gave Adam and Eve sexual desire so that they could reproduce. Thus, by understanding and handling everything that arises from the heart according to God’s truth, we could eliminate all silliness, conquer the devil, and accomplish His will. Concerning today’s verse, speaking the devil’s words is the most extreme case of favor revealing the mind. When people choose to be the outlet and spokesperson of the devil, they are vulnerable and under its control. Contrarily, when we understand what is in our hearts, we should always ask for Jesus’ help and guidance, letting Him free us and lead us in making the right decisions.

Reflection questions:

1) Can you separate yourself from the thoughts, desires, or emotions that arise in you and understand them one by one? If you have difficulty, what will you do?

2) Do you always understand the origins of thoughts, desires, or emotions in yourself? Which of them really belong to you, or do they come from other sources?