Daily devotional – The switching of our thoughts.
With the ability to receive news from around there world now in an instant, our society is immediately flooded with every event both good and bad as they happen. We were made aware of Charlie Kirk’s assassination just minutes after his shooting. We have then followed the reactions to this assassination through all social media platforms including our main television and radio networks.
Unbelievably, some people are actually celebrating this young father and husband’s death! Revealing what a sad and evil world we find ourselves living in at this time.
I do like to keep up with world events and especially those whereby we can see Bible prophecy unfolding before our eyes. But we often have to wade through much trauma and trouble for such information.
During my time as a Police Chaplain, the tasks assigned to me were always those of grief and sadness. I distinctly remember one particular Friday evening, it was late and I was heading home from work in what had been a busy and harrowing week, at the same time listening to the police radio. All the jobs were requesting officers to attend. One after the other, fights, domestic upheaval, stealing, violent unrest were coming over the radio one after the other requiring police attention.
It sounded as if our world was on fire with evil unrest and nothing good was happening. It was at that moment I decided to switch the police radio off and have some silence.
I was reminded of a Bible verse that I seriously needed to apply in that instant.
Phl 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, 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.
Peace involves the heart and the mind – “Isa 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.”
Wrong thinking leads to wrong feeling, and before long the heart and mind are pulled apart and we are sinking in despair and strangled by worry!
Thoughts are real and powerful even though we cannot see them. The Bible tells us to bring, “Into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” – 2 Cor 10:5.
What things are true that we can think on? Every Word of Scripture is true and we can meditate on such.
What things are honest and just – that are worthy of respect and right?
Whatever is pure, lovely and of good report – beautiful, attractive, worth talking about?
What possesses virtue and praise – If it has virtue it will motivate us to do better and if it has praise it is worthy commending to others?
If you compare what Paul listed here with David’s description of the Word of God in Psalm 19:7-9, you will see a beautiful parallel.
The Christian who fills his heart and mind with God’s Word will have a ‘built in radar’ for detecting wrong thoughts.
Right thinking is the result of daily mediation on the Word of God.
It’s time to switch off the wrong thoughts from the enemy and fill your mind with the promises of God’s Word.