THANKFUL

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

Lord, when the psalmist chose to live all-in for You, he knew it would come with a price: relentless spiritual assaults by the enemy of his soul. He prepared for the attacks In keeping with his new godly lifestyle, the psalmist laid out ahead of time how he would react to temptations and trials. These self-mandates to maintain the integrity of his relationship with You are solid foundations for Christ-followers today. How significant that the first discipline he employed was “I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar,” (Psalm 101:3).  

As evil and wickedness abounded in the psalmist’s time, so it remains today. Christ-followers are constantly pressured to conform to the world’s standards. Lord, to protect our minds from ungodly influences, help us refuse to consider, or even mentally entertain, anything vile, vulgar, or anything that raises itself against You and Your precepts. May we be cautious of appealing websites, or alluring chat rooms that the enemy would deceptively entrap us.

Today’s culture that calls evil good and good evil is nothing new, (Isaiah 5:20). What our minds dwell on determines how we respond when life’s stuff hits us. And it will hit all of us — no exceptions. Will we panic and be overwhelmed because we see all things as vile, vulgar and defeated? Or instead, will our souls remain peaceful, because Your goodness, grace and mercy are all we see?

You gave us a surefire way to guard our heart against all things vile and evil, but it take discipline on our part. Philippians 4:8 instructs us to think on all things good, noble, righteous, pure, holy, and the list goes on. Here we can ask again: “You are gonna help me, aren’t You, Lord?”

Lord, may we see only You in all things.