New Hope Brisbane

Joy to the World

What do you think about? Are your thoughts positive or negative? How would most of us be thinking if we were in prison? What would we be thinking about? The food’s bad, it smells, I hate these guards, Woe is me, why me God?

When he was in prison and was in danger of death, Paul wrote in Philippians 4:8:

Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.

He was in prison! What does Paul do? He writes a letter which is one of the most joyful letters you could read, calling his brothers and sisters his joy and his crown. He says don’t be anxious, pray, have the peace of God.

This verse changed me when I first read it. Now I believe in the power of positive thinking: not the worldly version, the Biblical version. I won’t give the devil a foothold and travel on the downward spiral of stinking thinking. As Sinners we can easily get negative and grumpy, but as a Spirit-filled saint I will always choose to think upon the goodness of God, His promises, His word, the prophecies spoken over me, the testimonies I’ve heard and read of God’s transforming power.

Lord, you are good, and your love endures forever. I give you my heart and my mind. I fix my eyes on you Lord. Help me to guard my heart from the fiery darts of the enemy. Thank you for your empowering grace Lord! Amen.