Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 125:1-5
Ps 125:1-5
1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. 2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore. 3 The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous, for then the righteous might use their hands to do evil. 4 Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart. 5 But those who turn to crooked ways the LORD will banish with the evildoers. Peace be upon Israel.
Phil 4:8-9
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
One of the first things I learned in my first basic computer class in college was GIGO – garbage in, garbage out. This is the same principle that Jesus stated when he said that our minds control our actions and thus our lives. If we bombard our minds with the lusts, the hatred and all the ungodliness that is so prevalent in the world around us, we will find ourselves giving in to these kinds of behavior.
Bad companions corrupt good morals because they encourage us to think on the things of this world and that which is immoral. Unfortunately, the closest friend that many have is either the television or the internet. There are no more ungodly companions than these. We must control what we put into our minds.
When we surround ourselves with godly people and we spend time in the word of God, we will find ourselves wanting to do the things that please God. A wise man used to say “we can’t keep a bird from landing on our head but we can keep it from building a nest in our hair.” At best there will be some evil thoughts that enter our minds but we don’t have to keep them there or dwell on them. James tells us to resist the devil and he will flee from us. There is no better way to resist him than to do as Jesus did when he was tempted and turn to scripture.
Heavenly Father, help me feed my mind with the things that are right, pure, lovely and godly. Keep me from allowing the things of this world to take root in my mind and in my heart. Give me wisdom to follow your word, to draw closer to you and to become all you want me to be. Thank you for giving me so many friends and family who love you and who encourage me in my service to you. Lord, there are so many who are suffering in so many ways and I ask your gentle hand of love and care upon them. Use me to help when possible. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
