Let Your Mind Dwell on These Things

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Let Your Mind Dwell on These Things

A number of years ago,  I worked  in an adult basic education class.     Many of the students were immigrants.     Many others were there  because the court ordered them  to be there.     With their troubled backgrounds,  they often had difficulty concentrating  on their work.

During one class,  I noted  that “James” seemed more disturbed than usual  and asked him what was troubling him.     He related  how earlier in the day  he was walking down the street  and saw a police car park nearby.     He was gripped with fear  and began running.     The officers pursued him  and took him down.

I asked  “James”  what he had done wrong.     He said,  “Nothing!     I was just walking  to the store.”

Then I asked him  why he ran.     “James”  looked confused and said,  “I don’t know.     I just didn’t want  to go to jail again.”

In James’  mind  anything connected  with the law  was to be feared  and avoided.     Although James knew  he had done nothing wrong,  his mind  dwelt only  on his inordinate fears  of the law.     He had no confidence  in his knowledge  that he had been living rightly  within the law.     So we talked about thinking  about all the good things he had been doing  and could be doing  in the future.     And we talked  about all the good things  the laws do  for everybody.     They truly are a good thing  that helps us  every day.

We need  to think  about good things.     People who allow their minds  to grovel  in the gutters  day after day  soon develop filthy minds.     Those who allow their minds  to covet  all sorts of things  will find themselves  cheating and stealing  to get what they want.     Others who allow their minds  to build up hatreds  towards others  find that some day  they act out their hatred  and end up  in trouble.

If we dwell  on all that is evil and wrong  in this world,  we will become discouraged and depressed.     In order to remain  in the truths  of our Lord and Savior,  we need  to follow the advice given  in Philippians 4:8,

Finally,  brethren,  whatever is true,  whatever is honorable,  whatever is right,  whatever is pure,  whatever is lovely,  whatever is  of good repute,  if there is any excellence  and  if anything worthy  of praise,  let your mind  dwell  on these things.

In thinking about that,  God……. is true,  honorable,  right,  pure,  lovely,  of good repute,  most excellent,  and worthy of all our praise.     To keep things  in the right perspective,  we should  let our minds dwell  on all that God is  and all that He does for us.     Then,  instead of being fearful and depressed,  we will be enabled  to fix our eyes  on all the good God has done  for us  in Jesus Christ — and on all the wonders  of our heavenly home  that awaits us.

Dwelling  on all that is good,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     Lord,  You created all things  in a power and beauty  far beyond anything we can fathom — and,  Your power brought Jesus  to this earth  as our Savior,  just as You prophesied.     Let us always look  to Your love and goodness  in Jesus Christ,  that we may see things rightly.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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