Where does your mind go when it has the freedom to roam? What does the murmuring of your inner dialogue sound like? What thoughts keep you awake at night?
If I’m being honest, my inmost thoughts revolve around myself most of the time. The Lord recently helped me to realize this. Many times, we aren’t even aware of our own thoughts, but God is gracious to show us the areas of our lives that still need to be brought into alignment with Him. After God showed me that my thought habits are self-focused, He invited me to lift my eyes and instead focus on Him.
Blessed is the man who…delights in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. – Psalm 1:1a-2
Scripture tells us that the way to blessing is by meditating day and night on all God has said. The word “meditate” in Psalm 1 denotes murmuring, the soft and frequent words one speaks to oneself. We are to murmur God’s wonderful words day and night, bringing them back to mind so that we can be renewed day by day.
This all sounds wonderful, but I know it is not easy. It is a discipline to bring God and His words to mind when my sinful mind’s default is to return to myself. To my cares, worries, and anxieties. This is why we are commanded to take decisive action to “take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5b).”
What will be the result when we choose the better way, to fix our thoughts on God and on His words? Peace and fruit.
Peace
You will keep in perfect peace Him whose mind is stayed on You. – Isaiah 26:3
This Isaiah passage speaks of being hidden in a walled city where no enemies can enter or harm. When you fix your mind on God, His saving protection keeps you in perfect peace.
Fruit
He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. – Psalm 1:3a
The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations – Revelation 22:2b
The Psalms passage continues on to show that the person who meditates on God’s law day and night will be like a fruitful tree. Later in Scripture, the picture of a tree is shown again. We get further insight that the fruit and leaves of the tree are meant for the healing of the nations.
You and I long for peace, and God gives it to us when we fix our mind on Him! Not only that, when we discipline our minds to meditate and murmur on God’s words, He will make us fruitful for the benefit of those around us!
If you wish to make a lasting impact on the world, fix your mind on Christ. This is the starting and ending point. The self-focused mind will only produce chaff, which is here today and tomorrow blows away in the wind. The God-focused mind can produce fruit for the healing of nations, to the everlasting glory of God!
