Life - Thought

Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart]. PHILIPPIANS 4:8 AMP

Today's extract is addressed to believers first and foremost. Who you are will always determine your pursuits and priorities. The question of identity always answers the issues of thought and action.  What I do and how i think is a function of who I am and who I know. The world celebrates acquisition of possessions, degrees and other physical things; God starts from the heart, because  he knows that once the heart is right, the heart will understand the place of other physical distractions.

Today's extract emphasises the importance of the heart above every other thing. It is the heart that is the seat of decisions, emotions, speech and conduct. It is the heart that God searched out when he wanted a replacement for Saul. Others were physically well- built; God was looking for someone who had his kind of heart. Amaziah was a 'good' king as recorded, but the God who knows the heart of man inserted a record for the king: 'He served God all the days of his life, but not with a perfect heart.'. That is the testimony of the God who knows and reads  hearts, and cannot be deceived.

As you go out today, take out an audit of your heart. What are my priorities? What are the things that shake my heart or distract me from what God desires? Am I spending time and resources on the right things? Am I guided by the values of the only Truth God has established? Knowing who God is let's me know that any instruction he gives has eternal consequences. His time of favour is here.