Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life

 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 4:6-8 The Message Bible

Every now and than, I need to be reminded that my mind is being cluttered with things I shouldn’t be thinking about. That’s what these verses did for me this morning. It’s as if Paul himself said, “Sandy, don’t go there! It’s futile to play out scenarios like that! Instead think on Jesus and all He’s done for you.”

Because without those reminders, I’d be burrowing down a rabbit hole and forgetting how to get myself back out again. It’s a constant struggle, this battlefield of the mind thing. If you’re human and reading this, you’ll admit that there are times when your thoughts just get carried away and develop a world of their own.

But guess what? God always provides a way out, a 2nd choice, an obvious detour to change direction and move away from the hole we’re burrowing into. Our choice. Always. We must choose well.

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!  You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Deuteronomy 20:19-20 NLT

It’s always our choice but like any good teacher, He gives us the answer up front, we just have to listen and be wise to choose well. Just know this, there is no one to blame but you for the choices you make. Your pass or fail grade is on you, He’s already given you the keys to success and all the ammunition you need to succeed.

Until Tomorrow,

Sandy G