While you are thinking and a myriad of thoughts are going through your mind, your friends don’t know your thoughts. Your spouse might think they can read your mind, but they also don’t know your thoughts. The person next to you on the bus, your boss, your opponent, no one EXCEPT our Lord God knows your every thought. Psalm 139: 23-24 “²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart; test my thoughts. ²⁴ Point out anything you find in me that makes you sad, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Nothing is hidden from our Lord. Isn’t that mind-boggling? Knowing that Jesus can read my mind and thoughts, encourages me to make those “thoughts”…good ones.

Paul, while imprisoned in Rome, wrote to the Philippians. Philippians 4:8-9 ^“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.” What encouraging words from Paul! We will not always have positive, tossing-rose-petal kinds of thoughts.  Some will be dark, some worrisome, some confused, but we are encouraged to get off that “train of thought” and redirect our thoughts to all that is true and good.

My personal go-to for redirecting my thoughts is to say the name of Jesus out loud, even if it is a whisper. When I hear the name of Jesus, CHANGE happens from within. My thoughts become less jumbled, less negative and I know Jesus is guiding my thoughts to the positive, healthy and good. His love for me and you is so very unconditional. There is power in His Holy Name. Think about that!

Jill