Can We Read God's Mind?

For all those Trekies out there, no doubt you know what is going on in this picture. It is the Vulcan Mind Meld! For those who have a life, or just don’t care for Star Trek, the character named Mr. Spock is a Vulcan, not a human. Not only do Vulcans have pointy ears, but they have the ability to “mind meld” with others and read their thoughts. At times, I wish I had this ability so I could read my wife’s mind and apparently she wishes I had this ability as well! But then again...     ...and I don’t think my wife would go for the pointy ears!

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Scripture repeats in many places that God’s thoughts are not man’s thoughts (example Isaiah 55:8-9 & Romans 11:33-36). Certainly, God’s ways and thoughts are beyond our finite minds. But God has done something curious and wonderful. He has given us access to His mind!

God reveals in First Corinthians 2:11-16 that, by His grace, we can know His thoughts. We cannot read a person’s mind, the text clearly states, unless we have access to the “spirit” of that person, meaning their mind and soul. Likewise, no one can read God’s mind unless we have access to God’s Spirit. If we have received Christ as our Lord and Savior, then He makes us into a new creature. The Holy Spirit of God comes to dwell in us, not in a temple of stone and mortar, but in a temple of living stones, the people in the body of Christ.

Thus, with the Spirit of God dwelling in us, we have access to the mind of God! We can understand the truth and wisdom of God because He lives in us. Obviously, this truth is not accepted or understood by those who reject Christ. But what is truly sad is how often I as a believer don’t live according to this truth!

I stress over decisions. I try to be wise in my decision making, but very often the wisdom I am relying upon is my own. The whole time, because I am a follower of Christ, I have access to the mind of God and His wisdom and yet, I ignore it! Oh, what a silly and wretched man I am! As His child and follower, I have the mind of Christ! He is transforming me into who He wants me to be, but so often I push back as if I have a better plan. 


What decision is too difficult if I have the mind of Christ in me? Where does the stress come from? It comes from me trying to do it all on my own and figure it all out with my limited, finite perspective. Christ has granted us an opportunity to “mind meld” with Him through prayer and the Bible. Consistent time in both produces consistent wisdom in our daily choices. (And as an added bonus, we don’t have to have pointy ears to know His thoughts!)