Guard that thought space

Like it or not, we will not always see eye-to-eye. There will be disagreements, some quite peaceful, others not so much. We will spend precious time debating the merits of someone else's decisions, lack of 'good judgment', or unwise actions, all while they are debating ours. What good does that do anyway? We could spend endless hours criticizing the ones who get into political office, head up our churches, or even lead us in the work arena, but what good comes of all that criticism and debate? It would benefit us much more to heed the advice to think upon the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; and things to be praised, not the things we could curse!

Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. (Philippians 4:8)

God isn't too excited about our 'tearing down' of each other, much less the comparison that goes on when we go about criticizing one another. In fact, he wants to work US into his most excellent harmonies, not see us 'worked up' over things that don't benefit us. God asks us to change our focus through changing the way we think. Whatever we choose to think upon will begin to manifest itself in some form within our lives. Think about the cost of living long enough and you will likely begin to develop some financial worries, contemplating what you will do if this price or that one begins to skyrocket. The choice we make with what we allow to dwell within our minds is one we must make with forethought. The forethought comes as we take in his Word and begin to contemplate upon it, how it should affect our lives, and what it will produce through us when we embrace it fully.

We do our best by filling our minds with wholesome thought - God does his best by creating within us those 'excellent harmonies' between his grace and our need; his peace and our worries; his joy and our anxieties. What are you filling your mind with today? Are you giving over that precious 'conscious' thought space to the worries, fears, doubts, and 'the worst' that you can imagine? If so, it is time to replace those thoughts within that thought space! Just sayin!