September 30, 2026 Devo

In recovery, there is a term we use called “stinking thinking.” The clinical term is “insanity.” Not necessarily insane in the sense that I believe I’m being chased by flying monkeys. But insane in the sense that my thinking is not based in truth and that it is leading me to destructive choices and behavior. And it’s more than just negative thinking.
For some, the insanity is the belief that our addiction is going to make us happy. It doesn’t, of course. It simply consumes and destroys everything precious to us. For others, the insanity is that we have our addiction under control. Which is nothing more than a comforting lie that we tell ourselves. The insane thinking for us addicts goes down many different trails. All of them are eventually dead ends.
The insanity for Nebuchadnezzar was believing HE was a god. He believed HE was responsible for his victory over God’s people and that his kingdom and success were all due to HIS greatness. Living out in the wild for seven years like an animal cured him of that illusion.
What hit me as I read Nebuchadnezzar’s declaration is that it’s exactly what I discovered in my own life. My “stinking thinking” has led me to many insane paths, which I’ve needed God to save me from. One part of that insanity was my selfishness. I developed this insane thinking about what I “needed” and what I “deserved.” Being self-consumed leads you to self-exaltation. I was thinking mainly of ME and not as much about those I said I “loved.” When God opened my eyes, He broke my heart. I was humiliated and mortified at who I had become. I repented, and my sanity returned. It still hurts to think about it.
The journey God has taken me on has made me realize that many of the problems in our lives, especially with others, aren’t about being “good” or “bad.” They are about being insane. Stinking thinking about ourselves or others leads us to toxic behavior and all kinds of relational problems. Stinking thinking about God leads us to a dysfunctional relationship with Him, His plans for us, and our ability to have faith in Him. Many of us, maybe even ALL of us, could vastly improve our lives if we thought rightly about God, ourselves, and others. So let me ask you a very personal, but profoundly important question. Are YOU insane? Your whole world can be different if you simply allow God to heal your mind. Paul said it this way in Romans 12:2: “Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” Let’s lose the stinking thinking and, like Nebuchadnezzar, reclaim our honor before God and others. That’s God’s Word for you today.