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What were you just thinking about?
Where does your mind drift to when you’re alone with your thoughts?
Capture Your Thoughts
While it’s good to have downtime, time to allow our brains to unwind and wander, we don’t have to give our thoughts free rein.
The apostle Paul reminded his readers to:
- Capture every thought to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5)
- Think about these things (Philippians 4:8)
- Set your minds on things above (Colossians 3:2)
Recall THIS
As we begin our new memory challenge today, we also hear from the author of Lamentations (often attributed as Jeremiah the prophet) to channel thoughts in a specific direction.
He says THIS we are to call to mind.
“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope.”
Lamentations 3:21
What is THIS?
We’ll find out again and again in the coming weeks, but peeking ahead this week, we see that it’s going to be good.
Among other things, we’ll discover that THIS is:
- The loyal love of the Lord
- Fresh, unending mercies
- God’s great faithfulness
Lead Your Thoughts
For this week, let’s remember that our thoughts don’t have to lead us.
We can choose what we think about.
We don’t have to dwell on whatever pops up, but we can take our thoughts to a different place, to thoughts of God, thoughts that are higher than we would have on our own (Isaiah 55:9).
And when we do? Therefore?
We have HOPE.
That is a reward worth thinking about.
What is worrying you lately? Where does your mind drift to in the middle of the night? What higher thought can you call to mind to substitute for a lower thought?
Please share what you’re thinking in the comments.
If you want to receive our weekly email for the six weeks of memorizing Lamentations 3:21-26, sign up here. We’ll send you links to a package of resources to download as well as reminders and memory hacks along the way.
When tempted to become discouraged that life is not going the way I expected to, I turn to the Lord in whom there is strength, peace, comfort and love. If I stay in my mind and let my thoughts take me downward, it will depress me and give Satan victory. When I turn to the Lord, I can refute the negative thoughts and stay in my spirit and find joy and peace that passes understanding. It’s an exercise to keep focused on the Lord and by memorizing the Word, it strengthens our inner person and keeps the enemy at bay. I so enjoyed this message!
You share much wisdom in your comment here. Turning to the Lord to refute negative thoughts is the best thing we can do. I appreciate you sharing with us that this indeed works!
My husband was involved in a terrible car accident that totaled our car. So my mind wanders to thoughts like ” What if he died in that accident?” “How are we going to get around?” ” Is God punishing us?”
I really believe the memory challenge is just what the Lord wants me to participate in. I’m looking forward to these next few weeks.
That’s some heavy stuff, Regina. I’m sorry about the car accident, but thankful that your husband survived it! Our minds can be so prone to wander to all those “what if’s.” Unfortunately I have a big imagination for that. But yes, the memory challenges are SO wonderful to help us tame those thoughts and corral them back to godly places. I pray that God will speak through these verses to bless you over the next several weeks and for a long time to come.
This morning I had to cast down thoughts of frustration, failure and not being enough. As I began to meditate on the goodness, faithfulness and awe of Christ, I realized that I have the mind of Christ. I was created for his glory and pleasure, my reward is with Him and in Him. Thoughts come from our soul, the emotional part of our being. If we let our thoughts direct our paths we will miss the very path that God has placed our feet. That path has hills and valleys and places of rest and peace. He who keeps his mind on Christ Jesus WILL be in perfect peace. Look! did you see how my thought pattern changed to the mind of Christ? Thank God for His word and the ability to overcome every circumstance and situation. We are more than victorious, we reign with the most High.
Amen, Tammie! This reminds me of the way King David often wrote in the Psalms – he would start out gloomy, then use words and truths about God to get his mind back in the right place. I’m so thankful for the power and beauty of God’s words! And thankful for friends like you who are so versed in them. I appreciate you sharing this with us here. I know it will bless all who read it.