"Safeguarding Our Minds"
Aug. 2, 2019
(Jesus said) "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me."
~ Revelation 3:20 (ESV)
Jesus Christ is knocking on the doors of your life. He wants to enter the door of your mind and thoughts. What will He find when He enters: clutter, chaos, or worse?
Or is there already a large portrait of Jesus hanging on the wall?
In order to be pleasing to Jesus, most of us must admit that our minds could stand a thorough cleansing. We need to deal with the garbage we allow to remain there and work hard at keeping fresh junk out.
Acknowledging your sin and that you have fallen short of God's holy Law is the first step to getting clean. By faith in Christ's atoning death and resurrection, you are clothed in His righteousness. When this happens, rejoice that you have been scrubbed clean.
But that does not mean our struggle with sin is over. We need to fill our minds and thoughts with God and His ways, setting our aim on "the things that are above, not on things that are on earth" (Colossians 3:2b). If we don't, the chances are good our minds will soon be taken over by the desires and passions of the world once again. Jesus tells us this very thing. (See Luke 11:23-26.)
Or as Paul has written, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" (Philippians 4:8).
In other words, fill your mind with God's Word and His ways. Take time to memorize Scripture; learn songs and hymns and psalms that bring glory to God; find a consistent time each day to engage the Lord in prayer. Keep a careful look out for all temptations. It's in our mind where temptations are either turned away or grow into sinful thoughts and actions.
Remember that Christ lives in you, and He is far more powerful than you, the temptation, or Satan. He wants you to have victory over this temptation. A pastor once noted that when he was tempted, he had learned to use that moment as a trigger—to pray for missionary friends overseas. Try something similar when you are tempted. Let your reaction be prayer or song or worship. Sing and praise God when you are tempted, and your mind will be filled with God, rather than sinful thoughts and desires.
Satan won't send temptations very long when their outcome is one of prayer and praise!
THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, we praise You for living inside us. By Your Holy Spirit, enter our thoughts, be at home in our minds, and take control. Keep us from temptation. By Your strength may our thoughts bring glory to Your Name. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
- Do you think of your life as something that Jesus enters and fills?
- Jesus actively seeks our attention. Has He gotten yours? What's your response to Him?
- How do you hear the voice of Jesus in your life?
From The Lutheran Layman, August 1979 issue, "The Room of Our Mind and Thoughts," by Matt Welser. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Do you think of your life as something that Jesus enters and fills?
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