Noble and Pure Things on Which to Think

"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."

Phillipians 4:8

I've tried starting this post several times, and the words I want just are not coming.  So I'll keep my words simple.  It doesn't matter how many negative things we eliminate from our thoughts if we aren't replacing them with the true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and things of good report, we haven't finished the job.

So as we enter a new year let's resolve not only to eliminate those thoughts of the world and the flesh but let us meditate on the things of God.  Let's be in constant prayer, and let's put him first in our day.

I challenge you to think on scriptures.  Write some of them out an put them where you will see them and be reminded of them throughout the day.  Think on the good things of God and not the things of the world, allow your heart to be overflowing with his promises so it is God's goodness that spills over and not resentment, frustration, ungratefulness, or other sins we think  are secret.

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful . 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither ; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper . 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away . 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish .

Psalm 1

19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Phillipians 4:19

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer ; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

1 Peter 5:7

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born , not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God

John 1:12-13

I hope you'll read the rest of the posts in this series if you haven't already.

• Thoughts on Thoughts
• Why our Thoughts Matter
• How Worldly Wisdom Finds it's Way In
• Completing a Media Fast
• Eliminating Fleshly Thoughts
• Noble and Pure Things to Think On

To stay up to date, and have access to my free e-book  Subscribe or  Like Lessons from Ivy (click on the welcome tab on my Facebook page to get the book)

Also, I am looking for some guest posters this month as I try to finish writing a book for the course I'm teaching next semester.  My only request is that you be willing to allow me to guest post on your blog a later date.  If you're interested please e-mail me at joyful kasey at gmail dot com.

Blessings!

Eliminating Thoughts of the Flesh

The last few days we've been talking about the importance of reigning in our thought life, and eliminating worldly influences.  Today we'll look at how our sin nature affects our thoughts. Unfortunately turning off the TV is infinitely easier than trying to change our sin nature.

We're each born with sin, and we live in sin until Jesus redeems us, unfortunately He doesn't completely take away our sin nature this side of heaven.  We still struggle, daily, if we're honest with ourselves.

Paul writes in Galatians 5:16-18

" ¹⁶This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

 ¹⁷For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

 ¹⁸But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law."

Our sin nature may remain after we are saved but we can choose to "Walk in the Spirit" rather than our flesh. This of course is easier said than done because our flesh would much rather that we didn't pursue the things of God.

So our typical day might look like this.  We wake up with the best intentions of praying and reading our Bible, but we hear a child cry so we tend to them.  Instead of taking a moment after tending to our child we start making coffee and breakfast for everyone.  Instead of opening our Bibles at breakfast we start doing the dishes.  Prayer get's forgotten as we watch the news, check our e-mails, call our mothers, vacuum, do the dishes, make lunch, get kids down for their naps, make dinner, and clean up for the evening.  

None of those things are sinful by any means, but by forgetting to pursue godly things, we allow sinful thoughts to creep in during the day rather than the thoughts of God.  Our thoughts become filled with frustration, anger, ungratefulness, and selfish desires, which do lead to sin.

We can never hope to eliminate our sin nature, just control it.  We must pray, we must read scriptures, we must meditate on the things of God, if we even have a hope.

Today I challenge you to pray many times today asking for guidance, and asking that ungodly thoughts be exposed.  Don't feel as though your prayers need to be long, rather pray any time you think of it.  Try to pray every time you notice the hour change.

Tomorrow we'll look at the pure and noble things we should be thinking on.  I hope you'll join us.

• Thoughts on Thoughts
• Why our Thoughts Matter
• How Worldly Wisdom Finds it's Way In
• Completing a Media Fast
• Eliminating Fleshly Thoughts
• Noble and Pure Things to Think On

To stay up to date on this series, and have access to my free e-book  Subscribe or  Like Lessons from Ivy (click on the welcome tab on my Facebook page to get the book)

Also, I am looking for some guest posters this month as I try to finish writing a book for the course I'm teaching next semester.  My only request is that you be willing to allow me to guest post on your blog a later date.  If you're interested please e-mail me at joyful kasey at gmail dot com.

Blessings!

Eliminating Worldly Influence With a Media Fast

Yesterday we examined how the media influences our thought life.  Today I'd like to challenge you to take a secular media fast.

I dare you, go a week without any Yahoo News stories, sitcoms, magazines, non-Christian Music, non-Christian novels, and non-Christian websites and see what happens.

Replace these things with godly pursuits.  I've done this every time I feel I need to draw closer to God and seek his guidance,  I've been pregnant or nursing for the past 4 years, so this is a good alternative to a traditional fast when my walk needs some extra help.

Some interesting things have happened each time I've done this.  First of all, many negative thoughts that were creeping into my brain almost immediately dissipate without something fanning their fire.

Also, each time I've done this my personal media standards became permanently higher.  When my fast would end I'd be completely turned off to the sin that has become a normal part of week-nite television.  This has caused me to purge our DVD collection (with my husband's blessing) and stop watching favorite TV shows.

Every time it has been worth it, every time it has improved my thought life, every time it's made me detest the wisdom of the world even more and every time it has drawn me closer to God.

Secular media isn't inherently bad, but after taking a break from it you will be amazed at the perspective you gain.  I hope you will continue to join me as I finish this series.

• Thoughts on Thoughts
• Why our Thoughts Matter
• How Worldly Wisdom Finds it's Way In
• Completing a Media Fast
• Eliminating Fleshly Thoughts
• Noble and Pure Things to Think On

To stay up to date on this series, and have access to my free e-book  Subscribe or  Like Lessons from Ivy (click on the welcome tab on my Facebook page to get the book)

Also, I am looking for some guest posters this month as I try to finish writing a book for the course I'm teaching next semester.  My only request is that you be willing to allow me to guest post on your blog a later date.  If you're interested please e-mail me at joyful kasey at gmail dot com.

Blessings!

How Worldly Wisdom Finds it's Way in Our Life

Yesterday, we examined how those little sighs of exasperation, unsaid sarcastic remarks, and bottled up angry outbursts, will come exploding out of our mouths or will be indicated in our actions if we don't remove them from our lives.  So where do all of these negative thoughts come from?  For the most part I believe our negative thoughts come from either worldly wisdom or our flesh. Today we'll examine eliminating worldly wisdom from our life.

Worldly wisdom is easy enough to spot and eliminate in theory, but not necessarily in practice.  Worldly wisdom can enter our lives through television, magazines, news articles, unsaved family, and unsaved friends.  If there is an area of your thought life you are trying to control chances are there is a source of worldly wisdom influencing it.

Are you constantly worried?  Eliminate the news.

Are you ungrateful for your husband and children? Eliminate any media that is remotely romantic.

Are you dissatisfied with your appearance or weight? Don't watch any show that doesn't line up with 1 Peter 3:3-4's definition of beauty.  Watching a rail thin woman whose job it is to be rail thin does nothing for your thought life, chances are she exercises 2 hours every day and eats a ridiculously low amount of calories.  These models on television posing as real women give us unrealistic goals and remove our focus from making our hearts beautiful rather than our outward appearance.

One a side note other people's comments can certainly affect our thought life as well. It's not always possible to control the people we spend our time with in the case of family and co-workers but we should have the courage to change the subject (even if it means asking directly) if the conversation is not edifying.

The world's wisdom can influence our lives in so many subtle ways it's hard to name them all.  Tomorrow I'll tell you of my experiences of Media Fasting and why I think every Christian needs to make it a regular part of their life.

• Thoughts on Thoughts
• Why our Thoughts Matter
• How Worldly Wisdom Finds it's Way In
• Completing a Media Fast
• Eliminating Fleshly Thoughts
• Noble and Pure Things to Think On

To stay up to date on this series, and have access to my free e-book  Subscribe or  Like Lessons from Ivy (click on the welcome tab on my Facebook page to get the book)

Also, I am looking for some guest posters this month as I try to finish writing a book for the course I'm teaching next semester.  My only request is that you be willing to allow me to guest post on your blog a later date.  If you're interested please e-mail me at joyful kasey at gmail dot com.

Blessings!

Why Our Thoughts Matter

Those secret things we think, that no one else knows.  Those moments of dissatisfaction and frustration we think we hide so well.  Our most private and personal thoughts according to the Bible define us.  The first part of Proverbs 23:7 says, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he." 


As we prepare for the New Year and the changes we want to make, ask yourself: what are your thoughts like?


Are most of your thoughts angry?  Then anger will rule your life and creep out in your family.


Are your thoughts filled with frustration?  Then you won't be able to hide it when dealing with your toddler (or teenager).


Are your thoughts filled with wishes that can never be, and are they filled with dissatisfaction?  Others will be able to spot your ungrateful spirit.


"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." Luke 6:45


There is no way to hide something in your heart, it will overflow into your life, it will overflow into your words, it will overflow into your actions.


So how are your thoughts?


"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." Phillipians 4:8


Join me this week as we continue to examine our thoughts and how to change them.

• Thoughts on Thoughts
• Why our Thoughts Matter
• How Worldly Wisdom Finds it's Way In
• Completing a Media Fast
• Eliminating Fleshly Thoughts
• Noble and Pure Things to Think On

To stay up to date on this series, and have access to my free e-book  Subscribe or  Like Lessons from Ivy (click on the welcome tab on my Facebook page to get the book)

Blessings!

Thoughts on Thoughts

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas weekend.  I know I did : )  It was made particularly special by having church Sunday morning, slightly more chaotic, but definitely special.  Unfortunately since having Josiah 6 weeks ago I've gotten three different infections all related to child birth, 2 of which blindsided me over Christmas weekend.

Now, I'm not going to say I was able to keep a 100% cheery attitude in spite of things, there may have been more than one occasion where I was frustrated and miserable to the point of tears, but for the most part it didn't ruin things.  I tried to focus on all the good things and memories going on around me, rather than wallow in misery.  After all I'm not the first woman to be recovering from child-birth on Christmas, that was Mary and she had to do it in a barn!

Before any of you get the idea that I'm some sort of super-woman able to will away depressing and negative thoughts, let me assure you I'm not.  There are certainly moments when my thoughts get the best of me.  However it is imperative for the sake of my husband, my children, and me, that I don't allow negative thoughts to reign.

Our thoughts define us, we may think they're personal, private, and secret, but they're not.  The Bible makes it clear that our thoughts will come out (Luke 6:45) no matter how hard we try to hide them. 

Be sure to check back this week as I explore more thoughts on thoughts. The planned posts for the series are:

• Why Are Thoughts Matter
• How Worldly Wisdom Finds it's Way In
• Completing a Media Fast
• Eliminating Fleshly Thoughts
• Noble and Pure Things to Think On

To stay up to date on this series, and have access to my free e-book  Subscribe or  Like Lessons from Ivy (click on the welcome tab on my Facebook page to get the book)


Also, I am looking for some guest posters this month as I try to finish writing a book for the course I'm teaching next semester.  My only request is that you be willing to allow me to guest post on your blog a later date.  If you're interested please e-mail me at joyful kasey at gmail dot com.