“Many will come in my name, saying, I am he, and the time has come. Do not follow them!” Our thoughts are fading and fleeting but also our thoughts can be inspiring and give God glory. It all depends on who is speaking, the person we are listening to and the person we are following in thoughts, in words, actions and deeds whether we give God all the glory or are tempted to speak without even thinking. Our thoughts are originating but not originating from us. Either God is inspiring you or the enemy is tempting you. Your thought then follows. Where it leads you depends on the source and the outcome. The inspirations we receive, accept, and cooperate with, lead us to good things, good opportunities, good insights and bear good fruit that is pleasing to God. This gives glory to God and grace to those who receive it. On the other hand, unfortunately, thoughts can be fading and fleeting, misguided and misleading. These are the temptations that cause us to fall, be inflated, cause us to procrastinate, become slothful and lazy. Temptations that cause us to be suspicious, dissatisfied, unmotivated and usually complaining. Temptations that cause us to want more, give less, to address others harshly, and usually with disrespect. This is the bad, evil, and rotten fruit our thoughts could produce when we allow our thoughts to cling to what is wrong or not healthy for our souls or our relationship with God. Tempting thoughts usually collide with the pride inside us. When they connect with our wounded ego and selfish pride, suddenly we erroneously think somehow, we know better, we know more than others, we are always right and never wrong or in error. We suddenly believe we can predict the future or pretend we can forecast someone’s misfortune or even give advice that is fraudulent at best, misleading and deceptive. That is what pride does when it is inflated at the ego and tempted with pride. We become as Saint Paul calls, unruly, disordered, busybodies, know-it-alls. Our Lord was very clear when He said from the Wood of the Cross, “Father, they know not what they do.” He even told Saint Peter regarding the beloved disciple, “What concern is it of yours? You follow me.” Even to the disciples He said they did not know the time nor the day the Lord would return but rather to stay awake, watch and pray. The thoughts we follow are the outcomes we perceive and believe so be inspired and let Jesus lead.
