What Do You Think About When You Can Think About Anything?

"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

At times, it can feel like our mind is a battleground.

You're tooling right along and suddenly a thought shoots in - one of anger or resentment or lust or greed or jealousy.

Where did that come from?

Sometimes it's a temptation put there by the enemy. But more often than not it is because we haven't fixed our thoughts.

By "fixed", I don't mean repaired.

Actually, maybe I do!

Part of being broken, not-yet-fully-healed people is that our thoughts tend to run away from God and to self. Left unchecked, our mind can get us in a lot of trouble. God is in the process of repairing our minds but this side of heaven we have work to do as well.

That's why, in Philippians, Paul uses such strong language - saying we have to work to fix our thoughts on things that are good and noble and worthy.

So, how do you do that? First an assessment:

What do you think about when you can think about anything? Where does your mind naturally wander?

Happy with the answer?

If not, try these two things:

-Fill your mind with Scripture, memorizing at least a verse a week. If you do this you will find your mind running in THAT direction more and more.

-Try to make your days an ongoing conversation with God. In the car. In the line at the grocery store or Target. While working with your hands. While changing diapers or getting school lunches ready for the kids.

Do that often enough, sincerely enough, and before you know it you will find your mind running to things that are "excellent and worthy of praise"!