All businesses that deal with any kind of buying and selling must take inventory of their stock regularly.  Knowing what is selling the best, how quickly it is selling, and which products are not selling very well, or maybe even causing the company to lose money, are all crucial questions that need to be answered.  Taking inventory is the only way to find the answers to such questions.

Spiritually speaking, taking inventory is also extremely critical.  This has to do with examining ourselves to make sure we continue to live lives that are pleasing to God.  Paul urged the saints at Corinth to do this.

2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV)
⁵  Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

This week, I want us to consider some areas where we must examine ourselves regularly.  Let’s begin with our thoughts.  Why should we examine our thoughts?  It is because how we think determines what kind of lives we live.  I know this because Jesus said so.

Matthew 15:17-20 (ESV)
¹⁷  Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? ¹⁸  But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. ¹⁹  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. ²⁰  These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”

Jesus teaches us that all evil actions come from evil thoughts, that is, they originate in the mind.  If this is true with evil things, it is also true with good things.  Good works begin with having good thoughts.  Here is how Paul put it.

Romans 8:5 (ESV)
⁵  For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

These inspired words from Paul are true 100% of the time.  Anyone who lives according to the flesh has a fleshly mindset.  With such a mindset, pleasing God is impossible.

Romans 8:7-8 (ESV)
⁷  For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. ⁸  Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

On the other hand, anyone living according to the Spirit has a spiritual mindset, resulting in life and peace (ver. 6).  Since there are no exceptions to this, our aim should always be to set our minds on the things of the Spirit.  This is the only way to live a life that is pleasing and acceptable to God.

How do we know if we are minding the things of the Spirit?  We do so by taking inventory of our thoughts from time to time.  There are a lot of things that we should examine about ourselves, but it should all start with our minds.  Never forget, the first place the devil attacks when he is trying to destroy us is our minds.  Someone has said, “It is the uncrucified thought life that is the origin of satanic assault in our lives.”

It is time to take inventory.  Start with your heart and make sure that you are thinking properly.

Philippians 4:8 (ESV)
⁸  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.