Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable – if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise – dwell on these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9
My words…
Praise
I praise You as the creator of the human brain – what a mystery! What a gift! Through Your boundless creativity, Father, You endowed me the opportunity to learn, to create, to discern, to judge…to think. And because You know the power of the mind, You provided a “think list” proven to clean, order, refresh, and inspire my mind. I consider what is true – Your words, miracles, gravity, heaven; what is commendable – a fifty-year marriage, a martyr, a ceasefire, funerals, anthems; what is just – Your judgment, Your vengeance, freedom; what is pure – fresh snow in a field, an infant’s breath, angels, baptism; what is lovely – forgiveness, a bride, a child’s faith; what is of good report – faith testimonies, prophesies, healings and cures, answered prayer, encouragement. Satan hasn’t the power to capture my thoughts when they are trained on these things. For this is Your remedy against Satan’s schemes to depress, distract, and discourage. You have filled this earth with so many wonderful things on which to dwell, Your love for Your children being the greatest of all.
Prayer for me
Thoughts of what has been, what is before me, and what is yet to crowd my mind, never lined up neatly, but pushing and shoving each other around in demolition derby style. And then my thoughts become captive by someone other than You, and I park my mind in the wrong spot and get stuck in the mud. The more I try to leave, the more I spin my wheels until I am in a self-made rut. Round and round my thoughts spin: the depravity of man, abuse and exploitation, the lost state of the world, the fortunes gained by wickedness, the power of the despot and dictator, the inequity among humankind. Round and round. During these dark times, Lord, remind me to slip into neutral and surrender my thoughts to what builds, not destroys.
Forgive me
Forgive me when I willingly choose to dwell on what is destructive, immoral, trite. Your Spirit teaches me how to think, and there are times when I am a very bad student.
Prayer for others
Lord, today I pray for those who have no control over their thoughts. My friend suffers greatly from post traumatic stress disorder, and she feels powerless to keep painful memories from bursting into the front of her mind and taking charge of her thoughts. I cry out to you to heal her and bring her peace.
Thank You
Lord, I thank You for my mind and all of the memories, ideas, epiphanies, questions, answers, reasons, and reflections it is able to create. My mind is a symbol of You: I know so little of what it can accomplish, and I am in awe of its mystery and power.
More praise
I praise You for being all that is true, commendable, just, pure, lovely and of good report. When I “dwell on these things,” I step into Your presence, and my spirit is restored. I give you all the praise and glory!
