What comes to mind when you see children laughing at kittens playing or a couple who has been married for decades dance to their song? How do you focus your mind if you are fearful or anxious or receive unexpected news from the doctor? Upon what do you meditate when you need to relax or refocus?
What do we put into our minds? We are challenged continually with what we allow into our minds. We regularly have difficulty focusing on the positive when there is much negativity begging for attention. What can we do to retrain our minds to think more positively?
A plethora of self-help books, talk shows, and therapists gives us advice as to how to redirect our minds. Yet, as we turn to the counsel of Scripture, Paul teaches us how to combat those negative influences and with what to fill our minds.
“Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].” (Philippians 4:8 (AMP), emphasis mine.)
Our Faith Connection Challenge: Examine and evaluate if what fills the mind fits these descriptions.
Lord, my mind is so easily distracted. Please help me to focus on Your Word so my mind is renewed. Thank You, in Your name.
