What's in your 'mind wallet'?

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The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature. 
(Marcus Aurelius)

I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works. (Psalm 77:11-12)

Whatever it is we choose to think upon the most will eventually manifest itself in our words and actions down the road. We may not consider the influence of those thoughts until we find ourselves acting in some way contrary to the way we should have acted, but when we truthfully consider what led to the 'not so great actions', we cannot neglect to see how our thought life influenced them. The 'recollection' of memories is not always a bad thing, nor is the consideration of certain truths and wise counsel, but when we dwell too long upon stuff God tells us to avoid, we are going to see negative actions emerge.

The quality of our thoughts matters probably much more than the quantity of things we put in our minds right now. Our present day's mantra isn't to get 'quality' knowledge as much as it is to just 'get knowledge'. The many ways we 'feed' our minds these days is astronomical compared to how we obtained knowledge a hundred years ago, or even fifty years ago. We have 'X', Facebook, all manner of news media online, and sites like 'Wikipedia' that can produce what some find as 'instant information' right at their fingertips. Back in the day, we had to go to the library, drag out the encyclopedias and actually 'hunt down' information. The 'quantity' of information we allow into our brains today without even realizing we are being influenced by it might just blow your mind if you were to truly consider what you 'take in' over the course of a day.

Get God's Word in first, prayerfully considering all that he gives you in those 'bite size chunks' of his truth and then test all the other 'stuff' you hear, read, or see. Chances are the 'truth' you think might be true that we find in all these other sources is just a bit 'tainted' by whatever entity puts it forth. Recall God's deeds, his goodness, the guidance he assures us we will have in him and ask him to help you reject all 'truth' that really isn't wise to ponder or dwell upon. Our minds aren't meant to be clogged up with all manner of 'negative' thoughts. They are meant to help us contemplate the greatness and goodness of our God. Just sayin!

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