Keep Your Mind Stayed on God
ICS Daily Devotions
Philippians 4:7-8 (NKJV) And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
The Apostle Paul said that after casting our cares upon God, we need to meditate on the truth and keep our eyes on God so we can keep the peace. Meditation is the key to keeping God’s peace in our hearts and minds. God’s peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. This peace is very different from the peace that comes from the world, which is subject to circumstances.
When we are fearful, we meditate on the unknown, the potential negative scenarios that might never happen. Our brain or mind can only think of one thing at a time. Therefore, we need to take charge of our thought life so we can keep the peace in our hearts and minds.
Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV) You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
Worship helps us to keep our minds on God and reminds us of His greatness. When we stay focused on God and His character, we will experience perfect peace. He does not want us to fear but to take comfort in knowing that He is with us. He has promised to help, strengthen, and uphold us in all circumstances.
When we are saved, our spirit man becomes a new creation, though our body will continue to age until we return to the Lord. Therefore, the final frontier for us to conquer is our mind, particularly our thought life. There is spiritual warfare within our thoughts. Temptation enters through our thoughts and physical senses. An argument takes place in our minds as thoughts and suggestions are thrown into it. Our lives are also influenced by what we watch, read, and how we process our thoughts. Fear or peace enters through the thought life.
2 Corinthians 10:4-6 (NKJV) For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
The Apostle Paul teaches us to pull down those thoughts, cast down arguments, and every high thing, including rationalism, and bring them into alignment with the Word of God. Meditating on the Word is the very act of casting down arguments by replacing them with what the Word says, rather than allowing rationalism to dilute the Word or our senses to instil fear into us. The weapon of our warfare is the meditation on the Word of God; it helps us to replace and take captive other thoughts.
Sermon Series: Relaxed and Composed
