Think On These Things

Friday, November 12th, 2010

Today's Passage: Philippians 4:4-13 
Memory Verse: Phil. 4:8

Have you noticed how many commercials for depression medication there are lately?  It's a vicious cycle: spend your life pursuing things that will make you happy.  Get an education so you can get a good job that will buy you a house and car.  Then you get those things and realize they're not enough to give you the happiness you were looking for.  So you keep searching and getting, thinking maybe if you can just obtain a little more, it will fill the void in your heart.

When we become believers, we are taught that only Christ can fill that void-- and He does.  The joy of knowing that Christ's sacrifice purchased our freedom from death, hell and the grave stays with most of us only long enough for us to start looking for that "more" again.  Somehow we don't really believe that God, Whose ways are not ours, can satisfy our longing for the things of this world.

But take a closer look.  That spirit of discontentment isn't coming from our Father.  The only thing He never wants us to be satisfied with is remaining on the same spiritual level.  Other than that, God knows the danger of letting our minds linger on worthless things like what we don't have, and where we want to be.  It takes our minds off of our purpose in life: to please God and accomplish His will on this earth.

I finally figured out why depression is so rampant: the enemy has created a world where all people think about is themselves.  The less you are consumed with self, the more value and self- worth you find.  That's why God invites us to think on things that bring Him glory.  He wants us to rejoice in the fact that our lives are accomplishing something for the kingdom at any given time.  This is what the enemy doesn't want us to focus on.  That's why we must make it our life's goal to think on only these things that our Father has established for us.  That's where the true joy is.

Prayer: Father, You are my Joy.  Every attempt I make to focus on Your kingdom takes me away from the enemy's grasp and closer to Your purpose for my life.  I love You, need You, and look forward to encounters with You that will draw me ever closer to Your will for my life.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.