Sunday, October 23, 2011 - Thought Police

"We take every thought captive so that it is obedient to Christ."

2 Corinthians 10:5

  Smoke detectors - you've got to love them, but right now the word "love" doesn't come to mind. We've discovered we have the Barney Fife model of not one but two of these devices IN THE KITCHEN and within feet of the oven. Therefore, each time I open a hot oven to baste what's in it, or to rotate a cookie sheet for more even browning, the alarms start beeping and we have to stop everything to down them down to silence again.  We've worn down the batteries in both alarms in the two and half months we've lived here and I have yet to write "batteries for smoke detectors" on my shopping list. Ooops. I'm enjoying the peace, but won't we pay dearly if a fire breaks out in the night before I get new batteries?   

     If there's an area we could use an annoying Barney Fife to say, "Nip it in the bud," it's as our thought police. We let our guard down for one movie and can't remove the nasty language or images emblazoned on our minds. We leave negativity unattended for a few moments and the next thing we know, we're choking on bad air and weakened by its effects. We allow criminal thoughts to run rampant in our home turf and wonder why we're insecure, ineffective believers.  

"Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life."

 Proverbs 4:23 (NCV)  

    

"Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth."

 Colossians 3:2

"The work of righteousness will be peace, a

nd the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever."

Isaiah 32:17

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:2

God help us with our thought lives. Lord, purify our minds and guide us to desire pure minds.  Strengthen us to turn off negative thought triggers as You empower us to turn on Your positive flow of promises. Keep our hearts and minds set on You. Rein in wild thoughts and squash them on the spot. Fill our heads with praises and thanksgiving. Equip us to see You in every situation instead of seeing the obvious negatives.

In the Name of Jesus, who told us to set our minds on things above.

Inspired by Live Loved, by Max Lucado