"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 praiseworthy." (Philippians 4:8 NLT)
Yesterday’s daily devotion shared it like a promise: “Your mind is a garden and you get to determine what it grows.” It seems fairly straight-forward: plant good things, harvest good things. What happy imagery! While I agree with the principle, sometimes the reality plays out differently.
All my recent hours in math class may be affecting my thinking, but it seems I started out following Christ as a simple equation: this + this = that. Time has proven it’s not that straightforward. Even if we consistently plug the right things in, there’s still an unknown variable: others. And that unknown variable (others) can wreak havoc on our lives, just as a negative or fractional variable can send an equation into a tail spin. We start out whole, but by the time we reach the resolution, we may be left wanting.
It is essential to remember that God usurps the equation. His sovereignty is stronger than math. (CS Lewis wrote of an older, deeper magic). And while the variable of others can and will send our personal algorithm into a free fall, the grace of God is greater still.
This morning I am refocusing my thoughts. I am choosing again what is true, honorable, right and pure. I am honing in on what is lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. These are the rightful places to put my full attention. Then, even when the unknown variable of others attempts to rearrange my mental equation, I can trust the love of God to redeem the situation.
"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us." (1 John 4:18 NIV)
Lord, we long to honor You. Teach us to guard our thoughts. Help us pay attention to the true, honorable, right and pure. Preoccupy us with the lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. Insulate us with Your love: carrying us through the effects of the variables that cause question, confusion or calamity. Gird us with Your presence and promise as we trust in You. Amen.