Renewing Our Minds

Kristen Rabon

BOH Office Manager

3/7/2022

What do we fill our minds with? Do we spend our time dwelling on angering news, emotional music, depressing books, dark games, and inappropriate tv? Do we focus on our negative thoughts about ourselves and our situations, or spend our time with negative people?

 These things wear away at the peace God gives us. When we constantly surround ourselves with things that bring us down instead of the things of the Lord, we are rejecting the joy that God offers us. The Lord gives us the gift of being able to focus on the wonderful things of Him. We can choose to exchange our anger, sadness, depression, anxiety, and fear for God’s joy.

 Philippians 4:8 says “finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” This is how we can live our lives in the fullest joy we can have here on earth.

 This is not a recipe for how to be happy all the time. We aren’t going to be in this life. It is also not about pushing away our real emotions. However, we don’t have to be powerless in the face of our anger, depression, or fear. We have been offered a consistent, real joy from the God who made us.  In John 16:33 Jesus says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” We can have God’s inner joy, regardless of our circumstances, if we focus on Him.

 To say it plainly, Matthew 6:33 says, “but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” If we want to fight our negative emotions and mental states, we must fill our minds with the things of God. So as we go throughout this next week, next year, and the rest of our lives, we need to constantly ask ourselves: what am I filling my mind with?