What do you think about during the course of a day? There are a number of things that we need to spend time thinking about. Doing my job. Driving the car. Fixing meals. The conversation I am having. And on and on.
But how often are your thoughts something you would be embarrassed to have made public? Like the little comic strip word bubbles. But instead of your words, the bubble would contain your thoughts. I suspect that would get most of us in big trouble
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:8 NIV
In this passage, Paul tells us to think instead about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. I can not always control the thoughts that flit through my mind. But I can certainly control the ones I dwell on. Fill your mind with godly thoughts.
But why should I fill my mind with godly thoughts? What’s wrong with thinking about worldly things? One reason is that we are to love God with our minds (Mark 12:30). And thinking ungodly thoughts is at odds with that.
The other reason is that what I spend time thinking about is what I become. My external life is really a reflection of my interior life. If I am ungodly in my thoughts, I will become ungodly in my actions (Matt. 15:18-19). If I am godly in my thought, my actions will follow suit.
So what do you think about throughout your day?
2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away;”
I rely on this scripture when my mind starts wondering. It’s brought me through many a day.
Romans 7: 15-24
“For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells [this is a timeless truth: there is nothing good in the old man, in the flesh]; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”
Then read Romans 8:1-4. And here is your answer. Christ Jesus came to deliver us from our sins. Thank you Lord.