Recently I was challenged by my wife with this thought from Scripture; "As a man thinks so is he." In other words, what we think on affects our entire life. If we think on negative things, if we let our mind dwell on our unhappiness or difficult circumstances, our whole soul and demeanor will be affected. But conversely, if we meditate on positive things we will be affected in a positive way.
As I've considered that, the Lord has reminded me that himself gives us such advice. For instance in Colossians Paul says, "Set your mind on things above [in heaven] not on the things that are on earth." In Philippians he says, "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 other words, what I think about greatly affects how I am. If I think on the negative things in life, what I don't have or what's not going my way or how I wish things might be then the result will be at least a droopy heart. I was reminded of this in a home group meeting the other week when I was lamenting all the negative things I was feeling about church and a relatively new Christian began to talk about all the positive. I was immediately convicted of how I had set my mind on things below, not above; things negative, not positive.
On another front, how we believe God in our heart with our mind affects us as well. We need to believe God for His best. We often want what we want. We believe we know the best for us and when God says no, we are not only disappointed we are angry. Often God has told us his will and we do everything we can to circumvent it instead of to graciously and humbly accepting what he calls us to do.
Lord, help me set my mind to things above. Help me believe you and trust you. I don't want to be negative or discontent. I want to allow your grace to shape my life.
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