11/04/2024
What you put in your mind and in your heart is what others see in your words and in your actions.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
Philippians 4:8-9 NIV
What we put into our minds determines what comes out in our words, desires, and actions. Paul tells us to train our minds to focus on thoughts that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excel-lent, and praiseworthy. Do you have problems with impure thoughts and daydreams? Examine what you are putting into your mind through movies, the Internet, books, conversations, gossip, television, video games, and magazines. Replace harmful and negative input with wholesome material. Above all. read God's Word and pray. Ask God to help you fill your mind with good and pure thoughts. This takes practice, but it can be done.
It's not enough to hear or read the Word of God or even to know it well. We must also put what God is teaching us into practice. How easy it is to listen to a sermon and forget what the preacher said. How easy it is to read the Bible and not think about how to live differently. How easy it is to debate what a passage means and not live out that mean-ing. Exposure to God's Word is not enough. It must lead to obedience.
