Your mind is the greatest gift God has given you and it ought to be devoted entirely to Him. You should seek to be “bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ . . .” (2 Corinthians 10:5). This will be one of the greatest assets of your faith when a time of trial comes, because then your faith and the Spirit of God will work together. CHAMBERS
Have you ever reflected on what you spend your time thinking about? God is concerned about our hearts … (Matthew 5:8) ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.’ (1 Samuel 16:7) But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
Samuel was about to anoint a new king and was meeting all of Jesse’s sons … David was the most unlikely of the seven sons, but had a heart for God. There are many other references to the heart in the Bible referring to the core of men and women. The path to the heart is through the mind … God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts .. (Isaiah 55:8-9) "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”
What we allow into our mind will travel to the heart. When it reaches the heart, it affects our core … when it affects our core .. it affects our relationship with God. We cannot fill our minds with the things of the world and expect to maintain a connection with God.
(Philippians 4:8-9) Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Our culture calls it entertainment. A good read. But what it does is draws us away from God .. it causes us to put a grade on sin … “Oh the language isn’t that bad” “Oh there was only brief nudity” “Yes it shows a gay relationship but that is only on TV” “Sure it depicts sex outside of marriage, but it doesn’t affect me” (This is one I struggle with –) “Yes there was a lot of violence and bloodshed but there wasn’t any cussing” Whenever this subject is raised .. our flesh rejects it … the battle takes place in the mind … In the garden, Satan asked Eve – Did God really say? In the context of this devotion – Go ahead and watch it or read it or listen to it – it is no big deal ….. Really? Why do businesses advertise and spend all of that money if adds don’t have an effect on people’s behavior?
So what are we to do … Focus on God .. seek Him out … guard our hearts by what we let in … stop making excuses … and ‘the peace of God will be with you!
Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)
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