My mind is feeling quite cluttered.

‘Tis the season’ – right?

Bombarded by input from advertisements and impeachment rantings and weather reports and planning emails and angry people and troubled souls and newsletters and great causes and ‘to do’ lists and ‘should have done’ regrets

my thoughts ricochet rather than focus,

and spin rather than settle.

How do I fix this?  How do I still the racing tangents of my mind?

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

God knew that there would be times when the pressures of this world and the onslaught of darkness would be more than my mind could bear, so He gave me a prescription for thinking – an antidote for my cluttered mind.

It requires some effort, and it requires a choice.

“Think on these things…..”

When regaled with the perspective of the world – think on things that are true, and honest, and just.

When faced with the debauchery of modern philosophies – remember and meditate on the things that are pure and lovely.

When overcome with bad news – consider things that have a good report, the actions and attitudes that are commendable.

My mind is a marvelous creation, and God wants me to love Him with my heart, soul, MIND, and strength (Mark 12:30).  

My mind has trouble loving Him when it is filled with the attitudes and actions of this world. 

So, I best be doing some mind decluttering:

choosing to lay aside the thoughts that obscure Him

and focusing instead on the truth of His Word,

• His love,
• His grace,
• His majesty,
• His creation,
• His omnipotence,
• His mercy,
• His smile.

Today, when the news I hear is troublesome and annoying and depressing,

• I will choose to pray for the peace and salvation of those embroiled in the conflicts.

When the person in the car behind me toots the horn in impatience,

• I will choose to ask God to still the driver’s heart as I get out of the way.

When faced with situations of unbearable sorrow

• I will trust Him as my burden bearer and follow His leading to provide comfort. (Matthew 11:28 – 30)

When faced with too many tasks and too little time,

• I will ask God to help me prioritize and focus on doing the next thing as I trust Him to help me complete that which is important. I will trust Him to order my steps. (Psalm 37:23)

When turmoil threatens my heart,

• I will choose to ‘be still and know (fully acknowledge and trust) that He is God” (Psalm 46:10). And I will remember that I am not.

When stressing over what I can or cannot afford,

• I will remember that He is all that I need. He is my provider. (Philippians 4:9-20)

Today I will choose to place my focus on

• the good,
• the lovely,
• the commendable,
• the honest,
• the just.

It is a goal – a hard task.

But I can do this for today.

II Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Psalm 23:1-3 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. ² He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. ³ He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.