Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Philippians 4:8 (NLT)
Our special-needs son spent the first month of his life in an incubator. Weighing only 2 pounds, 12 ounces at birth, he needed the extra warmth and time to grow. It was hard enough for us to watch him lying in a sterile machine, let alone leave him there each night. After doing some research on infants’ brain development, we realized it was crucial for him to be receiving some sort of mental stimuli.
Armed with a stack of CDs as well as black and white pictures, my husband and I headed to the NICU. The nurses agreed to tape the pictures to the incubator walls, then set up a CD player so we could play soothing lullabies for our little boy. All the visual and auditory stimulation he was receiving helped to increase his concentration, boost his curiosity, and improve his awareness of the world – be it so contained – around him.
Likewise, what we feed our minds is important to our spiritual growth. As the saying goes, “Garbage in, garbage out.” Instead of allowing garbage to fill our minds, Paul urges Christians to expose their minds to things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Our bodies are not our own. They are to be a holy sanctuary for God’s Spirit who dwells in us.
I’ve had to assess what I watch on television, what books I read, and who I spend time with on a regular basis. Are these things helping me to grow in Christ or sullying my thoughts? Are the things I’m reading, seeing, and hearing, conducive to a godly walk or mostly harmful? Are they drawing me closer to God or placing a wedge between God and me? What kind of example am I setting for my kids? If I want my children to follow in my footsteps, I’d better be certain I’m headed in the right direction and with the right company.
Brain development is not just for infants. It’s for all of us. Our minds are continually evolving and what goes in is as crucial as what goes into our bellies. When we feast on things that are pleasing to God, we will grow in wisdom and faith.
Thought: “When you fix your thoughts on God, God fixes your thoughts.” – Buddy Owens
For further reading:
- Psalm 19:14
- Luke 6:45
- Romans 12:2
- 1 Peter 1:13
Excerpt from my devotional, A Year in God’s Classroom