Whatsoever things are lovely
We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. –2 Corinthians 10:5b (NIV)
Our minds are a spiritual battleground. The enemy knows that if he can distract, dissuade, create suspicion, and introduce lies, he can gain a foothold. Indeed, all sin begins as a thought, an imagination that perhaps God has been holding out on us.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. –Romans 12:2a (ESV)
We live in a world that bombards us with images and ideas that run counter to that which would help us see God, appealing to every kind of lust or just wasting our time. As if that wasn’t enough, we can easily get tangled in our own negative thoughts – regretting and re-living the past or imagining worst-case scenarios that create anxiety about the future.
When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. –Matthew 12:43-45a (NIV)
It isn’t enough to put the bad stuff out of our minds. Maybe you’ve fallen into this trap: The more you focus on not thinking about something, the more you’re actually thinking about it. No, in order to interrupt an unproductive thought pattern, a law of displacement has to take effect – I won’t be able to stop focusing on THE THING until I find something else to take its place.
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. –Colossians 3:2 (NIV)
So how do we train ourselves to think? More importantly, how do we train ourselves to maintain a healthy train of thought? Scripture has plenty to say about where we allow our minds to play, but are there habits we can cultivate that help us to stay on a good path? Here are three useful tools….
We can provide ourselves with a godly foundation of truth by spending regular, intentional time in the Word. The best way to recognize a counterfeit is to be well-acquainted with the real thing. That perspective is crucial to discernment.
We can enlist the help of the Holy Spirit. I regularly ask that I’ll be able to quickly and easily recognize images, ideas, and situations that are tempting or troublesome or just devoid of value, so that I can sooner move on to something else.
We can do life together. I meet weekly with a group of a half-dozen trusted godly men who share permission to ask one another whether it is well with our souls. No judgment, just brotherhood.
But we have the mind of Christ. –1 Corinthians 2:16b (ESV)
Most of the things that compete for our attention are innocuous, even if they possess no lasting worth. But many are inappropriate, and some are downright toxic. Living in a fallen world, we won’t escape these things. But we don’t have to camp there. We must discern what is what, intentionally moderate and minimize our intake of godless and useless things, and respond to that which we cannot avoid with the mind of Christ. Heads up, eyes open, men!
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. –Philippians 4:8 (KJV)