Yesterday morning we talked about decluttering our thoughts. It really is freeing to let go of the worries, the what-ifs, the constant bombardment of unsolicited thought and focus on what the Spirit of God is teaching us.
“We who have the Spirit are able to make judgments about all these things. But anyone without the Spirit is not able to make proper judgments about us. 16 As the Scriptures say,
‘Who can know what is on the Lord’s mind? Who is able to give him advice?’
But we have been given Christ’s way of thinking.” I Corinthians 2:15-16 ERV
The Apostle Paul was continually instructing the new Christians on how to have a renewed mind. He wanted them to have their thinking conforming to God’s word and in turn he knew it would transform their lives.
“ Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:3-11 NLT
To be like Christ we need humility. We let God’s word and will be done in our lives. Learning to serve and care for others, knowing that God, Himself, is committed to caring for us.
“A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.” Luke 6:45 NLT
Our hearts are the treasury of God’s love, and we can make daily deposits into our account by what we think and by following through with corresponding actions.
“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 worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9 NLT
We choose to think on the good things, the things that are godly and pure. We capture thoughts that go contrary to God’s word. When we do, we have peace, God’s abiding peace!