Our minds, like our tongues, can often lead us where we don’t want to go – so let’s talk about taming the mind and keeping it focused on the positive.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.” (Philippians 4:8)
A few years ago, I was doing a Bible study devoted to Philippians. It was the first time I had tried to memorize scripture since I was a tween in my church’s confirmation class. I found it challenging to say the least.
But I also found it very rewarding. Especially this verse. Despite it’s length (and easily mixed up pieces), it stuck with me from that study on. Even today, I repeat it to myself when my mind takes me places I don’t want to go.
Our minds are powerful things
If you’ve ever convinced yourself of something with little actual evidence, you know what I mean by this. Our minds are powerful persuaders. They may tell us our friends are whispering about us when they really aren’t. Or that your boss didn’t like your presentation because he covered a yawn.
Our minds can also fill with negative, painful, or even ugly things. And once they’re there, we may feel powerless to evict those thoughts.
How to tame a stubborn mind
Your mind may be powerful, but you are still its master. God did not create our complex thought processes so that we would be slaves to them.
And while getting rid of negative thoughts isn’t easy, one way to press them out is by replacing them with positive ones. I love this verse from Philippians because it gives us any number of things to put in our minds when they have strayed to the negative and the painful.
What is lovely? What is praiseworthy? How about admirable?
Focus on these things and you will push out the negative thoughts that have been circling around in your head, and you will tame your mind.
Taming the mind is no easy task, but with practice, you will learn to fill it with the pure, rather than the petty. The noble, rather than the negative. The lovely, rather than the lousy.
Internal peace starts with mental peace. Give yourself this gift by taming your mind, one thought at a time.
Have a blessed Monday!
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