WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND?

"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he." Proverbs 23:7


Ever have anyone ask you "A penny for your thoughts?" A person wouldn't get much for their money some days if they asked that of me.

Isn't it amazing how our minds work? They can dig up junk from eons ago and replay on the screens of our minds. Or they can choose to wander off into the unknowns of the future with all sort of scenarios that would make the bravest hearts quiver. They can delve into the bottom of the barrel of ugliness and perverseness or as in the case of my dreams...they can rival Hollywood in the sci-fi genre!!

A sign in a business read:

WE ARE NOT WHAT WE THINK WE ARE; WHAT WE THINK..WE ARE!"

This past weekend I attended the Priscille Shirer "Going Beyond" Conference with my sweet daughter (her Mother's Day gift to me:) Thanks again Sweetheart!) As always, Priscilla was AWESOME!!! We looked at Joshua 1:8 and God's' instructions to Joshua before entering the Promised Land. In this verse, God gives Joshua....and us....his plan for victory and success.
It was very simple:

Speak the Word

Think on the Word

Act on the Word

As she elaborated on each point, she made this comment about "Think on the Word":

"Our words discipline our thoughts. Our thoughts make up our belief. Your belief system becomes your Faith."

So it is vital to the health of our minds, our hearts and our faith, that we reign in our thoughts! I know that it is not always easy to do. Satan wants to take us down all sorts of sordid, unhealthy corridors in our minds. But...we do not have to follow! We can call in the re-enforcements! Paul gave us the way to do that in I Corinthians 10: 5

"Casting down imaginations [your thoughts] and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

and again in Ephesians 4: 23:

"And be renewed in the spirit of your mind."

Then Paul gives us the replacement for all those contrary thoughts in Philipians 4: 8:

"Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatosever things are of good report...if there be any virtue...if there be any praise, think on these things."

As we go through our day today, let's monitor our thoughts. If they do not fall in line with these guidelines given to us by Paul, then IMMEDIATELY take them to Christ and allow Him to take them captive. Be vigilant! Philipians 4:8 every thought! If it doesn't fit the criteria, out it goes! Soon you will find that your day is going much better, your relationships will be better and you will be a much nicer person to be around!