Basically, what we listen to, look at, think about, ponder—what we experience or expose ourselves to sticks with us, especially if we feed on it regularly.
As I write, I have about 3 or 4 songs I recently listened to taking turns running through my head. My brain collected them several days ago when I found a website where you can watch a variety of full-length music videos, ranging from pop to rap to country and rock. Some songs had positive messages, some negative messages, and some were neutral. Music style is an individual preference, so I’m not advocating any particular kind of music. The point is, good or bad, what we take in, stays in. What we feed on fills us.
Philippians 4:8, then, isn’t just some pie in the sky, out of touch with reality kind of passage, a way to escape what’s happening around us, but direction given based on the facts of how we are made and how our thoughts, what’s on our minds, make a big difference.
Meditating on God’s word (Psalm 119: 9-16), thinking on certain things (Php. 4: 8), and setting our minds on things above (Col. 3: 2) is just plain good for us. We are buoyed up, strengthened, and reassured of God’s hand in our lives and His work in this world. We can focus on His good gifts (James 1: 17) around us.
The way we approach each day, relate to others, and give witness to our Lord begins with what’s on our minds. Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Cor. 10: 5) and allow your minds to be renewed (Rom. 12: 2). We can learn to discern what is beneficial (1 Cor. 10: 23) and make better choices about what we let into our lives, doing all in humility, without a self-righteous attitude or placing judgment on others (Gal. 6: 4). What’ll be on your mind today?
As I write, I have about 3 or 4 songs I recently listened to taking turns running through my head. My brain collected them several days ago when I found a website where you can watch a variety of full-length music videos, ranging from pop to rap to country and rock. Some songs had positive messages, some negative messages, and some were neutral. Music style is an individual preference, so I’m not advocating any particular kind of music. The point is, good or bad, what we take in, stays in. What we feed on fills us.
Philippians 4:8, then, isn’t just some pie in the sky, out of touch with reality kind of passage, a way to escape what’s happening around us, but direction given based on the facts of how we are made and how our thoughts, what’s on our minds, make a big difference.
Meditating on God’s word (Psalm 119: 9-16), thinking on certain things (Php. 4: 8), and setting our minds on things above (Col. 3: 2) is just plain good for us. We are buoyed up, strengthened, and reassured of God’s hand in our lives and His work in this world. We can focus on His good gifts (James 1: 17) around us.
The way we approach each day, relate to others, and give witness to our Lord begins with what’s on our minds. Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Cor. 10: 5) and allow your minds to be renewed (Rom. 12: 2). We can learn to discern what is beneficial (1 Cor. 10: 23) and make better choices about what we let into our lives, doing all in humility, without a self-righteous attitude or placing judgment on others (Gal. 6: 4). What’ll be on your mind today?
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