What's On Your Mind?
Ken Rice
It is no secret or surprise that during these uncertain times our minds can easily drift off into some pretty discouraging places. We are continually bombarded with shocking news footage, statistics, and depressing announcements. Our country seems more divided and polarized now than anytime I can remember in my 48 years living on this planet. In a nutshell, there is no shortage these days of destructive topics to ponder.
I know Pastor Jim has mentioned this and I have to say it is true for me too. When I am intentional about limiting my exposure to Facebook, CNN, and Fox News my attitude is much better. When I’m not mentally swimming in the fear and uncertainty that we are being spoon fed, I tend to recognize God’s hand in my life and my world. My sense of hope rises as I begin to recognize that there is actually good going on in the world around me and that in spite of how it looks around me God is still on His throne.
Last week while reading, Philippians 4:8 grabbed ahold of me. It was like God grabbed me by the head and made me stare at these words until they began to penetrate my heart and mind. I would like to encourage you to spend some time pondering the truth of this verse and see if it doesn’t recalibrate your thinking a bit.
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
Philippians 4:8
true: in accordance with fact or reality, genuine, accurate or exact, loyal or faithful
honorable: bringing or worthy of honor
right: morally good, justified, or acceptable, complete; absolute
pure: without any extraneous and unnecessary elements, free of any contamination, wholesome and untainted by immorality
lovely: exquisitely beautiful, very pleasant or enjoyable; delightful
admirable: deserving respect and approval
excellent: extremely good; outstanding
praiseworthy: deserving approval and admiration
I realized that a lot of what I was mentally taking in wouldn’t make it through the Philippians 4:8 filter. How about you?
Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not suggesting burying your head in the sand and pretending none of this is going on. What I am suggesting is that we spend at least as much time meditating on the things of God as we are media.
Spend time daily meditating on His Word. Spend time alone in prayer and worship. I think you will find as you do this you will more rightly be able to process and handle the uncertainty going on around us. For me, the reality of the problems we face has not gone away but my attitude and perspective on them have fallen more into alignment under the sovereignty of our Lord Jesus.
Stay strong in Jesus friends.