THANKFUL

Chatting with Jesus

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

Lord, this broken world is going nuts. Godless societies call evil good and good evil. Has there ever been more insanity in the world than it is today? Reading the Scriptures answers that question. Ever since that ugly snake incident in the Garden of Eden, the world has grown steadily crazier. Walking through the pagan city of Philippi, the Apostle Paul witnessed the godlessness of the city, where an idol stood on every corner and demonic spirits set up shop wherever they wanted. Paul shared with the brave Philippian believers the “secret recipe” for keeping one’s sanity and peace amid their persecution.  And the ingredients of that “secret recipe” have never changed. Paul wrote:

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. 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 . . .  Then the God of peace will be with you—Philippians 4:8,9

Jesus, You practiced self-control like none other. As Your followers, we should strive to emulate You to practice mind-control, not to dismiss nor deny that evil exists, but to acknowledge Your power far surpasses anything Satan offers. The devil dispatches his minions to distract us, wanting to parade before us all that is bad, which he calls good. But when we meditate on Your goodness, Your mercies, Your faithfulness, then Your peace sustains us regardless what’s happening in the world.

Lord, when our minds dwell on You, we rain all over the devil’s parade. I enjoy that.  Amen