Insights

Philippians 4:8 
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just (fair), whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable (praiseworthy), if there is any excellence, if there is any good report, think about these things.

The above scripture is what the Brooks Street students are memorizing this year as part of our proclamation about excellence. It has been a tough one to memorize even with all my crazy motions. It makes you think hard to get all those aforementioned attributes in the right order. Sometimes I find that it's also a difficult daily struggle to get my thoughts under control to focus on what the Lord wants me to instead of the wild swirl of fears, anxious thoughts and the cares of this world that seem to so easily invade my mind. So just like I do when I am teaching the proclamation to the students, I endeavor to reorder my thoughts and retrain my brain to think on the Lord and His Word. I tell my thoughts what to think.

It is hard as parents, in this fallen, depraved world, not to let our imaginations run wild with all the possible thought patterns that often have a devastating effect on our nervous system, our relationships and our mental health. We must realign our thoughts to the Word and just like it says in 2 Corinthians 10:5, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” If you have been around me for any length of time you have probably heard me pray my super elaborate, highly theological prayer of, “Help me, Lord, thank you, Lord, help me, Lord, thank you, Lord….”. When my anxious thoughts are yelling louder than my excellent thoughts, that is the prayer I pray. Whispering a prayer inviting the Lord into your thought struggle can have a glorious impact on your attitude struggle.

Speak to your thoughts. Tell your doubts about your faith in God, tell your fears about the peace of God, tell your covetous heart about gratitude that brings contentment, and tell your perfectionism about excellence. We don’t have to let a negative thought life control how we "live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). So much of our spiritual battle takes place in our minds. We must remember Ephesians 6:12, For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Write scriptures on postcards and put them on your mirror, refrigerator or dash board, in your car, or set it as the background on your phone. Set reminders in your environment that trigger your brian to focus on scripture and win the battle in your mind and it will then move to your heart and spill out on to your attitude and positively affect your relationship with the Lord and those around you.

Today, hear the Lord as He calls you His beloved and draws you and your thoughts into His peace, causing your mind, body and soul to find love and contentment made possible through keeping your thoughts stayed on Him.

Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

Becky Ross
Primary Education Principal
Logos Preparatory Academy