The human heart can be very deceptive—saying one thing but thinking another. This discord between thought and speech is what is known as deception. When deception becomes a practice, this leads to delusion. We are all a product of our though life and our thoughts reveal the real us.
The scripture teaches in Proverbs 23:7 that, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. The Bible in Basic English translation (BBE) renders the verse as follows, “For as the thoughts of his heart are, so is he: Take food and drink, he says to you; but his heart is not with you. This is the picture of someone offering you something in word what they do not really mean in heart. It is pretense and common to fallen man. It is also offensive to GOD.
This verse shows us that there is a connection between our thought life or the imaginations we cultivate in the garden of our hearts and our true nature. Put differently, a better reflection of the true nature or character of an individual is what thoughts they foster in that garden and meditate upon (i.e. cultivate) day and night, for as the thoughts of his heart are, so is he.
Discerner of thoughts and intents
How do we discern thoughts of men then? Well, on our own we do not have the ability to discern thoughts. But there is someone who discerns thoughts and if we are close to HIM and he sees fit, he is able to reveal to us the thoughts and intents of people’s hearts. Why would he reveal the thoughts of someone to us? He does it for many reasons. These include but are not limited to:
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To furnish the discerner of the thought with information to better serve or help the originator of the thought
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To increase the faith of the person whose thought is discerned so they can receive the Word of GOD
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To help open a door to witness GOD’s word
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To protect the receiver of the revelation from physical, mental or spiritual harm
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To guide the receiver of the revelation in making a life choice such as the right marriage or business partnership etc.
This discerner of thoughts is the same person who revealed the private dream of King Nebuchadnezzar to Daniel in order to give the King a chance to repent or turn from his destructive ways. In protecting Jesus from traps of the Pharisees or from premature death, GOD gave Jesus insight into the thoughts of those who were scheming against him so Jesus could always outwit them. Who is the discerner of thoughts? Let us allow the scriptures to answer that question:
Heb 4:12 KJV
(12) For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The Word of GOD is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. What is the Word of GOD? The answer to that can be found in the post entitled the Word of GOD. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word of GOD is GOD. GOD and His Word are ONE—meaning GOD can never lie. In him there is only truth or light and no shadow or variableness. The WORD of GOD is also the Sword of the Spirit (Heb 4:12; Eph 6:17) which discerns thoughts and intents of hearts. Ultimately the Word of GOD is a warrior—the undisputed KING of Kings and LORD or Lords and at the end of the age, He will return
Rev 19:13 KJV
(13) And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
