If someone offered a penny for your thoughts, would it be worth it? Have you thought about what you think about?
The Scripture that gets me safely through the day is a beautiful guideline to tame our mind, Philippians 4:8; Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable, right and pure, lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. . . and then Paul goes on to tell us to practice this thinking to bring peace and contentment. It’s easy to have our thinking take us to places today that doesn’t make us feel very peaceful or contented.
And we see it come out in what we say and how we act.
It cuts right to the intentions of the heart. Our attitude forms the pattern of our thoughts and it comes out in our words. Have you wondered if you would look as attractive if the words of your mouth and the meditations of your heart were stamped on your naked flesh?
Just the thought of it makes me uneasy. You don’t want to know. I’m reviewing what I thought of when I went to bed last night (after listening to the news), what I thought of when I woke up (how I think of all I can’t do rather than what I can do in His strength). And then there’s the thousands in between that confirm the others. Honest-ly.
How often we camp in an impure place of hatred, anger, anxiety, worry, fear and flashbacks. Considering we have about 50,000 thoughts a day, I’m hoping most of mine are on Paul’s 4:8 list.
And why would the Bible tell us to mind-dwell on the positive and the good repute if we couldn’t? Whenever we go to the fearful, grieving, want-to-give-up places in life we have the tools and spirit control to capture and apply the whatever . . .
Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 2 Cor 10:5
We can do an honest audit of how our words reveal where our mind drags us when we fix our thoughts on the true Word of God that helps us do battle – and win.
#expect to have a thought life that will survive the daily.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
Verna
Good word Verna!
Thank you, Joy!
Wow! Just exactly what I needed to read today.
Thank you for for visiting, Carolyn . . . yes, we need this 4:8 Word everyday!! Blessings.
I love your phrase, “It cuts right to the intentions of the heart.” I pray for individuals in my life whose hearts have changed because they got stuck in seeing the negative rather than the positive aspects of a relationship. It has actually changed their hearts and everything in life is colored by their negative thoughts. It becomes a challenge for me to move on from that negativity and survive the pain that it triggers. So, Rom 12:2 is a reminder to seek renewal of my mind. Thank-you for your words of wisdom, Verna.
So sorry, Lynda – somehow I missed this encouraging comment! Thank you for visiting and blessing me with your kind words . . .
Don’t know how I missed this one friend! I love the hash tag. #Expect to have a thought life that will survive the daily. That’s worth remembering, cause our enemy sure does want us to dwell on the negatives. The only good news to be found these days is between the pages of the Bible!