on January 12, 2011
Philippians 4:8 – 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.
Memorizing scripture has never been my strong-suit. I have no reason to believe that I was blessed with the sort of memory that can recall a scripture reference, at will, when someone says something alluding to a specific passage. I was however, blessed with a memory where deep in the convoluted recesses lay those verses that I memorized as a child.
The human mind is an incredibly complex organ. Visually, it is not a thing of beauty; being a soft mass of grey ridges. However the inner works are quite a different thing. There are sections, each with its own responsibilities that are carried out via a pathway of mini-computer-like neurons and receptors that rival the circuitry of the most sophisticated piece of electrical equipment imaginable. Our brain controls breathing, temperature, blood pressure; processes information from each of our senses; handles physical motion and lets us speak, dream, reason, plan and think. But it is the speaking, reasoning, thinking and planning that was given us by the Lord that sets us apart from the rest of His creation. Psalm 139:14 says, I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
OK, back to my point. As a rebellious teen and young adult, I would not have thought to take anything to prayer nor have been able to recall any scripture, save John 3:16. However, in my early 40s during a time of family crisis, my first instinct was to pray…earnest, heart-broken, gut-wrenching, tear-streaming prayer. I was so surprised by this spontaneous response that I almost missed the immediate comfort… that comfort that comes only when you are so sure that you have placed your problem into the most capable hands you know of.
When I regained my composure and returned to my desk (I was at work….in the bathroom, no less) I began to think about why I reacted that way. I was immediately taken back to my childhood to Sunday School where we were taught scripture and taught to pray. Those seeds that were planted in my brain are very much like a garden. Something is going to grow in that soil, whether it is left to go wild with weeds or whether it is cultivated. It will produce. We have all heard GIGO-Garbage In, Garbage Out. We are the same. Angry thoughts produce anger, negative thoughts breed negativity and likewise, positive thoughts will yield a positive attitude. If we continue these patterns, we can expect nothing different from our life and the lives of those around us…if we plant corn, we get corn. No good will come from a negative thought, no bad from a positive one.
It was the fertile soil of my brain and heart as a child, where the seeds were planted that have resulted in who I am today. If we fix our eyes on Jesus, if we surrender our hearts and our minds to Him, our ‘gardens’ will rival those of the well-cultivated gardens of the palaces of royalty.
How grateful I am today for the memories that came flooding back, the knowledge of a Lord and Savior who loves me, cares for me and comforts me; thankful for a well-tended garden.
Thursday:
- Humbly meet together with at least 1 or 2 others to pray and “think on these things.”
- Join our 6:00pm Thursday night prayer team (in prayer if not in person).
Friday:
- Confess the things that you tend to think about that do not fit with the Philippians 4:8 list.
- Pray for the Good News families of the week: Bill & Linda Logan (Andrew, Mark, Meg), Ben & Jen Martin (Emma, Grace, Benjie, Callie), Barr & Sherry Miesch.
Saturday:
- Pray for transformation that begins with renewing your mind, the way you think (Romans 12).
Sunday:
- Thank God for His Holy Word and the ability of your mind to call it to remembrance.
- Join in with our Sunday prayer services to pray for God’s presence and blessing.
Monday:
- Ask God to help you fill your mind with the things that will bring honor to him, joy to you, and blessing to others.
- Attend “In Touch” Prayer meeting at GNCC at 10:30am or join in prayer at that time.
Tuesday:
- Pray that God’s Word will produce in you a harvest of righteousness.
Wednesday:
- Pray that God will convict you of thoughts and meditations that are not pure or righteous!