SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1203

“Thought Life”

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7

In our last devotional we examined Philippians 4:6-7 about worry and anxiousness and the need to be in continual prayer and communion with God. That is when God’s peace guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Paul then underscores verses 6 and 7 with an exhortation to focus our thoughts on whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. – Philippians 4:8

All these things to focus our minds (and hearts) on are the antidote to the disease that plagues the heart of mankind.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. – Jeremiah 17:9; Matthew 15:19

Our propensity for sin originates in our minds and hearts. Our thought life, what we entertain in the recesses of our minds, give sin a stronghold that holds us in bondage.

For as he thinks within himself, so he is. – Proverbs 23:7 (NASB)

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. – John 8:34

Jesus went further to say that sin does not have to be a physical act. Sin occurs when the thought is conceived and nurtured in our minds.

But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. – Matthew 5:28

Therefore, it is important to be diligent in transforming and focusing our thinking on all that is listed in Philippians 4:8.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind… Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. – Isaiah 55:7; Romans 12:2

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. – Romans 8:5-6

Have you ever been in quiet contemplation, meditation or prayer and have had evil thoughts suddenly enter your mind? It is like, ‘Whoa, where did that come from?’ The enemy of your soul will seek to disrupt your peace and your prayer life with distracting and sometimes sinful thoughts. Guarding your heart and mind means to immediately take that thought captive unto the Lord and destroy it.

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ – 2 Corinthians 10:5

I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord. – Psalm 119:15; Psalm 104:34

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock, and my redeemer. – Psalm 19:14

May the Holy Spirit search your heart and mind and reveal to you the strongholds that need to be destroyed through repentance, transformation, and the renewal of your mind through Christ Jesus.

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting! – Psalm 139:23-24