Mind Games

DEVOTION

PHILIPPIANS

MIND GAMES

Phil 4:8-9

8 Finally, brothers, 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. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
NIV

Here is the rub, how to control my thoughts, for sure the thought police cannot arrest me, can they? The question, of course is; what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy? It surely cannot be anything in this world, can it? I think not! Oh right, my wife is all of that, my children and of course myself, I jest! I know the only answer to that question is Christ; he is the only one who qualifies to be described by all those adjectives. But can I be thinking about him all the time? How do I function during the normal course of my day? How do I perform my duties in my business or on the job, so to speak? How do I deal with those temptations which attack my mind? Are they not thoughts which offend these principles? I must resist the devil, resist the thoughts which do not qualify, I must practice considering what Jesus would do, how he would respond. He was tempted; he must have had a moment’s thought. But he resisted and used the word of God. That is it, if I hide the word in my heart and mind, if I memorize the scripture, the spirit will bring to mind the right course of action each and every time I need help. But it does require practice, as Patty says with enough practice on the keyboard of the piano; one can play a very complicated piece without the music and without looking at the keyboard. This is that kind of daily practice in exercising my ability to resist the devil and his attacks and thus yield to the spirits control. It sounds so simply, but it surely is not. It is a mind game, of which I hope I do not lose.