“And now... Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8 (NLT).

 

Gosh – I wonder how many thoughts you have just had while reading that little verse.

 

 If you are anything like me – probably about 10 000 000 different things all in a millionth of a split second.

 

If we are honest with ourselves (and the Lord) for the most part, our thought life goes pretty unchecked. Our brain goes about its busy day, without us even aware of what it is taking in or putting out. Yet, when we do something or say something or react in a certain way, we then realise just how unruly our brains can be.

 

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle said that he saw a human mind like an empty attic. The fool takes in everything without any order or discernment and when the time comes for them to retrieve it, they cannot find it for the huge amount of clutter. The wise person chooses carefully what goes in there, when a decision has been made the wise person puts in its place for easy retrieval at the appropriate time. (A Study in Scarlet, 1890.)

 

For me, a lot of what goes into my brain comes in through two very little but vital organs called my eyes. Although very small, they have seen A LOT.... and not all of it has been beneficial to my almost full mind attic. So yes, it is pretty cramped in there at the moment.

 

How about you?

 

Well, I am here to tell you that all that clutter in that mind attic can actually be cleared out. You can have your very own “clean house”.

 

“Where do I start?” you might ask.

 

Well, how about stop looking at things you know you should not be looking at. The Psalmist wrote, “I will refuse to look at anything vile or vulgar” (101:3). The writer of this Psalm made a decision to look the other way when something vile or vulgar came in line of his focus. Also, remember that the Lord's Eyes are constantly watching you (2 Chronicles 16:9, NLT).  

 

Secondly, allow the Holy Spirit to renew your mind (Romans 12:1-2). How do I get a new mind, you may ask? Well, it is not easy, but not impossible. Just like a spoilt child would seek to enforce it is own will, so your mind will do the same. Just like a spoilt child is accustomed to getting what it wants, so will your mind seek to get its own way. Without discipline both will continuously disobey.

 

The next time a thought comes into your head – take it captive (2 Corinthians 10:5). The Greek word for captive means to “take as a prisoner of war”. How do you “take your thoughts captive’- simple – you tell it you are going to take it captive. Say, ‘You lustful thought I take you captive and bring you under the obedience of Christ”.

 

What is a real “winner” is spending time with God’s Word. Listen to what the Psalmist writes: “How can a young man (or woman) stay pure? By obeying your word...I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (119:9-11). Instead of spending that extra hour watching a unedifying television program, how about opening your Bible and reading from God’s Word. Or how about going to bed a little earlier so as you can rise a little earlier to spend time with God in the morning, before your day starts.

 

It is in making little changes to your everyday life that will make all the difference in what goes through your eye gates and into your mind attic.