Works and Thoughts - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2026

Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts will be established.
Proverbs 16:3

Works and Thoughts
It is plain that good thinking is essential. Our spiritual transformation involves renewing our minds (Rom. 12:2; Eph. 4:23), and without accurate thoughts about God, the world, sin, heaven, hell, and salvation, we will drift into dangerous waters. Frequently, the Lord Jesus asked people what they thought about certain subjects, or explained how their thoughts were incorrect. This surely indicates that errant thoughts must be adjusted if we would understand and apply the Word of God accurately. Moreover, as we live for the Lord, we are told, “gird up the loins of your mind” (1 Pet. 1:13) so that some uncontrolled thought does not trip us up.

In that context, then, our verse from Proverbs appears at first to have things out of sequence. Should not the text tell us to commit our thoughts to the Lord, and then our works will be established? No doubt that statement would not be wrong; but here the Spirit of God is teaching something different. First, this verse exhorts us simply to do what we know we ought to do. If we commit our works to the Lord, we will heed the unmistakably clear instructions given to every believer. We will share the gospel and live righteously. With fellow Christians we will enjoy the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayers. We will practice the “one anothers” of the Bible. Doing the obvious things will often be the path to better thinking about everything else.

Second, this verse provides assurance in our uncertainty. Perhaps we face choices which all would reasonably honor the name of Christ. As we seek heavenly wisdom, committing our works to the Lord, we receive the promise that our thoughts will be established. We do not have to second-guess anything that is truly done for the glory of Christ and the edification of the saints.

Stephen Campbell