The Right Way of Thinking Has Guardrails – Patrick R. Carberry 1/2/26
The book of Proverbs, largely attributed to Solomon, one of King David’s sons, was written to teach wisdom and practical instruction. It is directed both to the young and inexperienced (Proverbs 1:2–4) and to the wise who desire deeper understanding (Proverbs 1:5–6). Solomon is widely regarded as the wisest man who ever lived.
According to the book of 1 Kings chapter 3, when Solomon was young and newly appointed King, the Lord appeared to him in a vision and invited him to ask for whatever he desired. Solomon did not ask for wealth, power, or long life. Instead, he asked for “an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil.” God granted his request and blessed him abundantly with wisdom beyond compare, great wealth, and a forty-year reign over Israel. Scripture tells us that no one before or after him possessed such wisdom, with the incomparable exception of Jesus Christ, who is God in the flesh.
Having received this gift from God, Solomon passed on divine wisdom through the book of Proverbs. His instruction consistently points readers toward seeking God and living according to God’s truth. God’s wisdom is meant to guide our thinking and our conduct, keeping us on a straight path and protecting us from being led astray. In other words, living each day within guardrails, establish by God, to avoid sinning.
Proverbs 19:27 warns us plainly:
“Cease listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.”
In other words, entertaining ideas that do not align with Gods word will pull us away from God’s truth and place us in spiritual danger.
There is an old children’s song that captures this truth in a simple way:
Oh, be careful little eyes what you see…
Oh, be careful little ears what you hear…
Oh, be careful little feet where you go…
Oh, be careful little tongue what you say…
Though simple, the message is profound. What we see, hear, say, and do shapes who we become. Godly thinking keeps us moving in the right direction, but “knowing wisdom” is not enough. We must also have the discipline and conviction to apply it in our daily lives.
God knows that we need guardrails. Without them, we drift into unhealthy and unholy lives, becoming a law unto ourselves. Scripture describes this danger clearly:
“In those days there was no King in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6; 21:25).
A once popular slogan in the secular culture was “Do your own thing as long as you don’t harm anyone else.” This is the same as …. everyone did what was right in his own eyes. If Jesus does not rule our hearts, something else will. The Lord said in John 14: 15, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” Which means, we do what is right in His eyes, not ours.
Christ: The Wisdom of God
Fast forward to the New Testament letters. In 1 Corinthians 1:24, the apostle Paul calls Christ “the wisdom of God.” Jesus is the perfect expression of divine wisdom. He is God in the flesh (John 1:14), and He reveals what godly thinking and living truly look like.
Throughout Scripture, God commands His people to be holy. In Leviticus 11:44 and again in 1 Peter 1:16, we are told, “Be holy, for I am holy.” To be holy means to be set apart—to live differently from the world in thought, word, and deed.
Jesus raised the standard even higher in the Sermon on the Mount. He taught:
“Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28).
Here, Jesus makes it clear that sin begins in the heart and mind. Lust is not merely an action, it is sinful desire, coveting what God has forbidden. Though this is one example, the principle applies to all sin. It is not only what we do that matters, but also what we think.
This leads to an honest question: How can we possibly think only pure and holy thoughts?
The answer is simple, yet humbling, we can’t do it on our own. Freedom from sinful thinking requires the power of the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 12:14 gives us a sobering reminder:
“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
We are called to holiness, yet we often fall short. The process of growing in holiness is called sanctification, and it lasts a lifetime. If our standing before God depended solely on our ability to live perfectly holy lives, we would all fail. Jesus alone lived a completely sinless life—in thought, word, and action.
Through faith in Christ and His atoning sacrifice, believers are declared righteous in His sight because Jesus paid the penalty for our sins. Still, on judgement day God our works will be examined, and our lives are meant to reflect Christ’s character. “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened and the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done” (Revelations 6:. 12).
Guardrails for Godly Living
The Lord commands, “Be holy, for I am holy.” Jesus was tempted, yet He did not sin. He did not allow sinful thoughts to take root in His heart. This is the foundation of the right way of thinking.
Thoughts can lead to actions.
Actions can become habits.
Habits shape character.
Your character will influence your destiny. This is why guardrails matter.
Here are examples of practical applications to avoid sinful thoughts:
- Men: If you look at a woman with lust, avert your eyes. Do not linger.
- Women: Do not envy or covet what others have. Be grateful for what God has given you.
When sinful thoughts arise, do not entertain them. Repent, turn away from them, and ask God for forgiveness and strength. Replace temptation by filling your mind with godly things: God’s Word, spiritual songs, acts of mercy, and faithful service.
We must be intentional about what we allow into our minds. Change any habits that may create the next step to sinful acts. This requires dependence on the Holy Spirit, who enables us to think and live in ways that honor Christ. To live Christlike.
We all need guardrails to live lives of obedience to God. Following Christ means adopting His way of thinking and living. Each day, we are called to deny ourselves and grow in Christlike character.
Jesus said it plainly:
“If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).
This is not easy. It is a daily struggle. We all wrestle with a sinful nature. Yet as we yield to the Holy Spirit, He shapes us into the likeness of Christ. This is the ongoing work of sanctification, learning to think, speak, and live as Christ did.
God’s wisdom provides the guardrails. As Christians, our calling is to stay within them.
Patrick R Carberry
Pat retired from the FBI in 2018. Prior to the FBI, Pat worked in the high-tech sector for over 25 years. He is also the founder of Joshuacord.org (www.Joshuacord.org) a non-profit Christian organization that supports religious freedom for Christians under persecution in the Middle East, Asia, and in Africa. Pat is executive producer of a documentary to raise awareness and support on the subject it’s called Christians in the Mirror (www.christiansinthemirror.com) available on various channels including Tubi, Yidio, Clicker, and Christian Cinema, https://www.christiancinema.com. Pat received his B.A. Degree from California State University, Fullerton, CA, attended master’s Program at Liberty University, and served in the US Army 82nd Airborne Signal Corps. Pat is married to his beautiful wife Bettie and has two adult children and two grandchildren.