Many times, we don’t experience joy because we don’t control our thoughts. However, our thoughts have a great influence on our feelings and lead to our actions. In Philippians 4:8, Paul gives a laundry list of things to think about:
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8 ESV)
A lot of the thoughts that we allow in our minds prevent us from experiencing joy and are not even true. If we think to ourselves, “God is mad at me, He doesn’t really love me”, that’s just not true. These are the thoughts that we need to throw away. I challenge you to take a mental inventory of your thoughts, write them down, and ask is this even true. If it’s not, let it go. If it is, pray about it and give it to God.
You can’t control everything that will happen today but you do have the power to choose which thoughts you allow in your mind. So today I encourage you to focus on what’s good, what’s true, and what makes you grateful.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me a sound mind through the power of Your Holy Spirit. I pray for wisdom to recognize thoughts that are not true and strength to let them go. May Your truth fill my mind. In Jesus Christ’s Name, I pray, Amen.