I’ve been talking to a number of people this past month who along with me, struggle with their thoughts. The struggles they express have underlined the need for this Scripture verse to be in our mental arsenal. We need it for spiritual warfare, but we also need it for simple encouragement! If you memorized it as a child, pull it out, dust it off and work on it this month. If you never memorized it, now is a good time.
The Creator Knows the Best Way for Your Mind to Think
Think of the Creator GOD who made you. He is telling you what helps your mind work best. Dwelling on the true, the just, the wholesome and pure, the excellent and lovely.
Imagine raising your child in that environment? There is plenty of the evil and negative to go around. We must be different.
Do you Believe all the Clutter that Fills Your Mind?
Is there that voice in your head that says, “Nothing will ever change. There is no way this situation will improve.” or the many half-truths that are complete lies that we listen to over and over in our heads. “GOD can forgive x, but there is no way He is going to forgive sin y. Especially since you keep doing it over and over. He’s tired of wasting His time with you!” And then there is the one I hear often, “You keep blowing it. Why don’t you just give up. You don’t deserve any forgiveness!” (well, that part is true…I don’t deserve any of it!)
As we live our lives, we have messages we have heard in our heads for years…“You are no good.” “You have nothing important to say. Be quiet.” “Because you have/don’t have x gift, you won’t be able to make a difference in the lives of the people around you.” There are many versions of these messages but they are the opposite of what our Scripture talked about last month. In Christ, we have the resources we need to live the way GOD wants us to. In Christ, we stand forgiven, dressed in the righteousness of Christ…clothes we don’t deserve to wear!
This month, we need to realize that the way we think affects us and those around us. If we dwell on the true, honorable, just, lovely and excellent, we will talk that way, we will think that way and the GOD of peace promises to be with us. Peace lives in that environment!
But if we stay stuck in a world where GOD has no power to change evil or bring justice or give us the strength and courage to live in difficult relationships…or have the courage to go the extra mile it takes to live in reconciliation with one another? Then we are listening to the lies of the Evil One and not dwelling on the truth of GOD’s Word.
Do as I need to do, put this Scripture into practice. It is certainly an exercise in discipline. The results over a one month period will be very encouraging! As we allow GOD to remake our minds, our attitudes toward the lives GOD gives us will change!
Let’s move out together this month and encourage each other as well as be encouraged by developing this habit of thinking.
Finally, brothers, (and sisters)
whatever is true,
whatever is honorable,
whatever is just,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is commendable,
if there is any excellence,
if there is anything worthy of praise,
think about these things.
What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—
practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:8-9
