Dense Thoughts

“You shall not follow a crowd to do evil;…”
- Exodus 23:2

My wife said I had to give her props for this, so… A brilliant scientist, who serves humanity by teaching 8th grade science, taught me about density today. Density is basically how much a given volume of something weighs. She pointed out that milk and saltwater have the same density (or very, very close in a controlled environment). I found this very interesting in how it aligned with the notion of “dense thoughts” and, alternately, “dense people.”

Milk has historically been essential in nourishing the most vulnerable among us (small children) into strong and healthy adults. Alternately, saltwater if consumed like milk will make you crazy. Sailor’s tales are full of individuals adrift at sea and falling into the trap of drinking saltwater. Too much sodium in the blood causes confusion, delirium, hallucinations and madness. Yet, there is far more saltwater on earth than there is milk.

As in nature, so holds true in our thoughts. We drink in thoughts, ideas, propaganda and all manner of communication everyday. Some is milk to our betterment. The vast majority is saltwater in our lives. Yet, we rarely stop to consider what it is we are consuming. We look around us and see everyone else on the same bandwagon and think we are doing fine. Yet, Exodus 23:2 clearly advises us, “You shall not follow a crowd to do evil.”

How we stand in comparison to others is irrelevant. In fact, 2 Corinthians 10:12 tells us, “For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”

The only thing that matters is how we compare to what God says about us. That can be scary for some to consider. However, God’s thoughts towards us are “precious” and “full of love.” His thoughts are the milk that transforms the frail, vulnerable creatures we are into healthy “joint heirs with Christ.” It is the sustenance we need to become who He created us to be.

Unfortunately, we tend to be dense people. We are so thick-headed at times. We will not allow the thoughts of God to permeate our thinking and nourish our souls. To hear Him, we have to consciously choose to listen and be open to God speaking into our lives.

Yes, listening to God can be scary at first. We are dense creatures, but the Lord’s thoughts are dense thoughts. They are deep with layered arguments shared in love and have the ability to transform our lives. I love what A. W. Tozer wrote: “The voice of God is a friendly voice. No one need fear to listen to it unless he has already made up his mind to resist it.”

Paul wrote over and over throughout the books he authored in the Bible about the importance of our thinking and our mind. As he writes in Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,…”. And how are we to do that? By “bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,…” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

We get to choose. We can be dense people or we can contemplate dense thoughts that can transform our lives. We can drink the saltwater of bitter, scandalous, evil and corrupt thoughts; or we can be nourished by the milk (listening for the Lord speaking into our lives through His word and Holy Spirit).

Choosing means spending time thinking about what we are thinking about. Taking our thoughts captive. And only pursuing those thoughts which are in obedience to Christ. It is vital in determining who are in the world. As Proverbs 23:7 states, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”

A person is simply what they are thinking about all day long. Contemplate that. How much of our thinking everyday derives from the saltwater thoughts of the crowd? How much time do you spend contemplating the nourishment of thoughts which can come only from the Lord who promised a kingdom flowing with milk and honey. The milk of precious thoughts which can transform your life and thoughts sweeter than honey as they are filled with love.

Milk and saltwater have the same density. The thoughts you choose to contemplate and think about all day long will equally serve to determine who you are in this world; for good or ill. The thoughts of the world end in madness. The thoughts of our Lord are a “light unto our feet.” Think about what you are thinking about. And actively choose which thoughts you will live by.

© 2026 Warren Martin. All rights Reserved.