Set Your Mind on What's Good

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

When we face a crisis or are in the middle of one, our mind and thoughts often begin flying all over the place, like arrows aimed at, unfortunately ... self-destruction. We often assume the worst is going to happen, robbing ourselves of hope and taking a seat, as it were, on a supersonic jet in the fast track to depression.

Or, we wander into the whys of self-pity and wallow around in the mud until we're stuck and sinking and the very life is being sucked out of us.

Or, we begin rolling the dice of the what ifs, until our head is spinning like the roulette wheels at gaming tables and we're counting on "chance" to plunk itself down on our dilemma to rescue us.

Or, we presume to know the future and so, begin to dictate to our bodies and decisions, subconsciously, what "we're sure" is going to happen, thereby, actually enabling some of what we're thinking.

Or, we panic and act stupidly, get advice from bad counselors instead of good, try to control things that make matters worse because we're feeling out of control or any one of a number of other scenarios.

God, our Heavenly Father and Creator, knows that Satan, our arch enemy, longs to hold us captive with our thinking, keep us from truth and God's redemptive power over all circumstances, and destroy us by capturing our thoughts and using them as a rudder to turn us like a ship into headwinds that will splinter and demolish us. He knows the biggest battle for our lives and eternity is fought first in our minds. So He gave lots of instruction in His Word, the Bible, about how to win those battles.

In Eph. 6:10-11 (New Living Translation), the Apostle Paul writes, "A final word: Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so you'll be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the devil." Part of that armor, he goes on to say in verse 17, is the helmet of salvation. Since the Bible says Jesus is our salvation, that means "putting on the mind of Christ" or asking Him to control our thinking and bring our thoughts captive to His perspective.

The verse at the beginning of this devotional is additional instruction about how to have the mind of Christ ... the kinds of things it's beneficial to think on. This isn't a Pollyanna, stick-your-head-in-the-sand-and-ignore-reality kind of thinking. Instead, it's putting your mind where it can do the most good ... for your emotions, your immune system, your life, your family, your outlook, your moment-by-moment life.

Paul gives us that instruction right after he's told us in Philippians 4: 6-7, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

That's what God desires for us, peace in the middle of circumstances, a focus on the One who can walk us through whatever we're facing, victory in the battle for our minds and an eternal perspective on life.

Ask God to help you dispense with all the negative, fearful, presumptive, self-focused thinking that weighs you down and accomplishes nothing good and help you, instead, to think on those things that add life to your life and life to the lives of those you love.

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