Thought For Today

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. -Philippians 4:8

Thinking Thoughts That Harm Us

(Jeremiah 17:9)

When I was a little girl, my family was traveling down south on a particularly curvy road. My cousin and I were sitting in our station wagon’s back compartment (before seat belts were required). As my mom took each winding curve, we would sway back and forth, chanting, “I am sick, I am sick, I am sick.” Finally, my mom called to us and said, “If you would sit down and stop thinking about it, you will be fine.” I don’t know if I felt entirely well after that, but we forgot about the curves as we busied our minds on something else.

Another time my husband and I went on a float trip and didn’t make it back before dark. We had no motor, no cell phones, just oars. As the darkness settled over us, my imagination went wild with seeing snakes in the water. Fear set in on me as I had never experienced it before. After the fifth time I called out about seeing a snake, my husband finally convinced me that it wasn’t snakes but the moonlight beautifully reflecting off the water. My fears calmed as this thought settled into my mind.

Thinking Right Thoughts

(Romans 12:21)

When we think thoughts that harm us, like I’m sick, I see snakes-or other thoughts like:

• I’m dumb
• I’m not as good as they are
• I don’t deserve it
• I can’t do it
• No one cares
• I’ve always been like this
• or a million other negative thoughts we can think

We cannot allow those thoughts to live in our minds. The Bible says to take every thought into captivity. (2 Corinthians 10:5) Good or bad. Every thought needs to be examined and kept or thrown away. 

The way to get rid of a wrong thought is to replace it with a correct thought. Today’s Bible verse tells us to think about things that are:

• true
• just
• pure
• lovely
• a good report
• virtue
• praise

Here’s a Thought: Love the Lord God with all your mind. (Matthew 22:37)