Don’t Worry… Be Happy
Fixing Our Thoughts – Part VI
Scripture Reading: Philippians 4:1-8 NLT
Key Verse: Philippians 4:8 NLT
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.
In this second week of devotionals, we are looking at scriptures that promise God’s children His peace… His perfect peace. In these last two days, let’s look at on what we should “fix our thoughts”.
This idea of fixing our thoughts presumes that that we have power over our thoughts. It is possible that some of us think that we are “victims” of our thoughts. I hope that these devotionals destroy that lie!
God does not direct our thoughts and neither does the evil one. When we become Christ-followers, we face the truth that God expects us to take control of our thoughts and direct them in a godly way.
Philippians 4:4-7 may be the most quoted verses in the Bible. These verses tell us not to worry and to pray about everything and remind us that we can have God’s peace to guard our hearts and minds as we give God all our concerns.
However, Philippians 4:8 tells us on what we should fix our thoughts.
When we are reading a book or watching a TV show, our minds focus on what we see. Many times, our minds are so fixed on what we see we do not realize what is going on around us or when someone is speaking to us.
It would be great if we could so focus our minds on godly things that we would hardly notice the evil and perversions around us.
When we fix our thoughts on the wrong kinds of shows or reading material, we are inviting the evil one to lead us into temptation. Stop and think about the TV shows you have watched this past couple of weeks. Did any of them lead you to lustful thoughts? As you spent time on your computer or smartphone, did you view things that you could have avoided?
We all fix our thoughts on something. The question for today is on what do you fix your thoughts?
After an honest evaluation, would you say you have helped the evil one by fixing your thoughts on evil things or have you helped yourself stay pure by fixing your thoughts on godly things?
Father, please remind me when I am fixing my thoughts on things that are worldly and contrary to Your will for my life. Help me to quickly get my mind on things with which You are pleased. In Jesus’s Name I pray, amen.