What is on your mind?

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things.

I have been preparing my sermon this week on, You Are What You Believe. I have tried to step away from as much of the distractions as possible, to get some quality time with God. The study has led me down so many roads with Him. I truly wish I could spend even much more time in preparation that I can now. I cannot begin to convey the weight that is on my heart for each Sunday. The distractions come in countless ways; but they always serve a means to get my mind elsewhere. When my mind goes to something else, anything else is taking my eyes off God. In study it can be one thing that tends to take you out of the presence of the Holy Spirit; a phone call, an email alert, a visitor, the list could go on & on. Do you think it is a coincidence that you always have a distraction when you try to read your Bible?

Paul was speaking of this meditation in the passage above. Paul was truly showing that what dominates your mind, pours out from your lips. What you put in, is what comes out. If you are consumed with anything in this world, all else is a distraction. If you are consumed with a sport, all other sports are folly. If you are consumed with work or success, anything else taints the goal you have set. If you are consumed material possessions, you are never satisfied. What you meditate on, consumes you; good or bad. What is Paul saying; whatever is praiseworthy to meditate on; anything else serves as a distraction for the only One you should be focused on.

Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. I have one big distraction that will just not go away. It creates division in all aspects of my life. I prayerfully have went before God and made my peace with it, but yet it still surfaces. All it does is point to the need for a heart truly after God; I must continue to seek Him every time it arises. All these things simply show us our need to seek to abide, to be in a “state of being in Christ”. A heart that abides is a heart that meditates on the praiseworthy things. A heart that does not abide is a heart torn by all the distractions and troubles that comes with being caught up in the world.