OG Devo – What are you Thinking?

Recently, while “cleaning up” old files that were saved on my computer, I came across the original 20 year-old manuscript of Devotions For Difficult Days. As I’ve read through the OG devos, the memories of His faithfulness in the midst of pain,
come rushing back to my heart. I so clearly see the grace and mercy of God on my life and His ability to walk us through trials. Not necessarily removing the painful events, but giving us His wisdom and grace to walk through them. It’s also a real-life example of Romans 8:28 and Ephesians 1:11 which says in part, He is “working all things according to the counsel of His will.” And His promise to bring good from all we face – If we put our lives in His hands.

I have decided to share a few of these OG devos from years past, in their original form for the most part. You may notice a few grammar issues or strange sentence structure. Please try to look past that, and land on the lesson He was teaching me
at the time, and maybe even use it to remind/or teach you as well.
For His glory and your encouragement,

Becky White

What are You Thinking?

Finally, brethren, 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, dwell on these things.
Philippians 4:8

Fix our minds on things above not on things of the earth.
Colossians 2:2

What do you spend your metal energy on? Do you rehearse the events of your day, replaying every word spoken… every slight incurred? Do you mentally rehash abuses suffered in your past or dwell on the what if’s of life? Do you dwell on all those aches and pains we get as we age? Or have you disciplined your thought life to dwell on only what is positive and edifying?

I wish I could say I always have a tight reign on my thought life, but the truth is, I struggle in this area. Allowing my mind to wander into the land of doubt, self-pity, negative thinking, discouraging thoughts or mulling over insults and injuries of long ago (or not-so-long-ago). God constantly reminds me to “Fix my eyes on Him (Jesus), the author and finisher of my faith, Who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame.” Hebrews 12:2 Encouraging me to get my focus off all that’s wrong and back onto all that is right in my life.

God also has this to say about our thinking; As a man thinks in his heart, so he is. Proverbs 23:7 If we spend our day dwelling on all that’s wrong in our life or the world or the economy or the political system or…you name the issue…it will effect who and what we become…physically and spiritually. For this reason the Lord admonishes us to fix our mind on good and godly things, things that are “lovely”. For me, that meant not dwelling on the circumstances of my life. For you it might mean letting go of the past or forgiving a wrong or trusting God for your future. Stop and think about what you’re thinking!

Father,
Help us to notice when our thoughts are going astray to temporal things, unimportant-in-the-long-run kind of thinking. To notice and change thinking that tears down instead of building up. Enable us to discipline our thinking, so we are not enslaved by any and every thought that comes our way. In Jesus’ name…Amen

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

*I’m not simply promoting, “the power of positive thinking”, but rather, the power of mediating on God’s Word. His Word will sustain, infuse us with strength and hope and has the power to set us free.

For a free download of the Original Devotions for Difficult Days devo or to purchase a hard copy, click here.