Philippians 4:8-9 (ESV)

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Explanation:

The Apostle Paul, who wrote a majority of the letters that make up the New Testament, closes His letter to the Macedonian churches by encouraging them to be purposed about how they think. Paul wanted them to know that whatever they set their minds on would be what dictated their desires, their behaviors, the words they spoke, and how they reacted when pressed against. Their faith, their love for each other, their very lives depended on how they thought. Paul tells them to place their thoughts on good things.

Sounds simple enough. But Paul knew the mind of man, that it is twisted and broken and easily pulled toward selfishness, pride, idolatry, and all kinds of evil. Paul tells them that thinking on good things, and consequently living out those thoughts, would take practice. They would need to work hard and be purposed to implement the type of living Paul was calling them to…the type of living that would reflect and honor God.

Application:

1. What is one thing that stands out to you in today’s passage?

2. Thinking about your life, have you seen how shaping your thoughts toward good things changed the outcome of a situation?

3. Have you ever had an experience where you let your thoughts go toward negativity and brokenness? What was the result of thinking that way?

4. What is one way you plan to be purposed about practicing thinking good things?

Prayer Prompt:

Ask God to help you set your mind on Him.

Ask Him to help you take every thought captive.

Ask Him to shape and guide your thoughts and desires as you set your mind on Him.

Devo Plus:

Read 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 and 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.

Psalm 1:1-2 (ESV)

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners,

nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Explanation:

Throughout the entire LIFE series, we’ve been exploring new ways of thinking and behaving that will provide us with the blessed life Jesus promises to those who walk in His ways. Today’s reading provides us with some very clear, practical ways to experience a blessed life. Notice that everything is centered around having a deep connection with the “law of the Lord,” which refers to the Word of God. In order for something to be a delight, we must have a relationship with it, a familiarity where we have experienced first-hand its ability to produce something good in our lives. It becomes something we might even meditate on, or think about day and night. As we have been exploring all week, this passion originates in the heart. A person who has such a passion for the Word of God is someone who has placed the Word in their hearts and made it the top thing that drives how they walk in life.

In contrast, notice the many other ways we can seek guidance. We can ask for counsel from a source that is not God-centered, we can surround ourselves with others who influence us not to walk in the ways of God, and we can even choose to believe truths about others and the world around us simply because we choose to agree with the popular or most convincing crowd. Keep in mind, these verses are not saying don’t love and care for people if they fall into those categories. It is encouraging us to be wise about where we seek guidance, what we choose to follow, and ultimately what we let govern our hearts. From today’s reading, we discover that the Word of God is what leads to the abundant life we so desperately desire. Together let’s seek to find delight in it.

Application:

1. In what ways have you found yourself seeking guidance and support from sources other than the Word of God?

2. Describe a time when you chose to follow the Word of God over another source.

3. Why is the Word of God the best source for abundant life?

4. How would like to grow in your delight of the Word of God?

Prayer Prompt:

Heavenly Father, thank You for speaking to us. It is such a great comfort to know we are not left alone as we walk through this life. Would You give me a deeper desire for Your Word? I ask for courage to follow Your Word above any other source.

Devo Plus:

• Read Psalm 19:7-11, and write down how the Word of God can be a blessing to you.

Proverbs 3:3-4 (ESV)

Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;

bind them around your neck;

write them on the tablet of your heart.

So you will find favor and good success

in the sight of God and man.

Explanation:

In this passage, we are being directed to steadfast love and faithfulness. Steadfast love is choosing to love others no matter what, to give them the same mercy we ourselves have received through the person of Jesus. To be faithful is to conduct our lives in a way that we live out truth. In other words, we are to live our lives in both grace and truth. But this is not always the natural way we conduct ourselves, so how can we do this? By studying God’s Word, knowing what it says, and then making it a normal part of our lives. When the writer tells us to write these items on our hearts, that is only possible if it is, in fact, what we are filling our lives with.

When I am dedicated to spending time with God, reading His word, and filling up my heart with the things of God, unconditional love, grace, and truth flow much easier. What I put in eventually comes out. So, in order to be loving, gracious, and kind, I have to fill my life with those things. And when I do, others will notice. The writer of this proverb knows that what we fill our lives with is what comes out in our attitudes, actions, and words. Fill your life with the things of God, and it will be what flows out to others.

Application:

1. If you were to take a good look at your life, what are some of the negative things you are currently allowing to influence you and your heart?

2. How are these things actually causing harm to your life, and coming out in how you act?

3. What are the things of God you are writing on your heart?

4. What do you need to do to make ensure that the things of God are what is flowing out instead of the things of the world?

Prayer Starter:

God, I want my life to reflect You. Help me as I study Your Word to truly hide it in my heart. Help me learn more about You and fill my life with Your things. I want what flows out of my life to be a reflection of my relationship with You. Teach me, challenge me, and help me become more like You.

Devo Plus:

To go a little deeper, take time to journal some of the things you are allowing into your heart that maybe you need to get rid of (anxiety, fear, anger, bitterness, worry, etc.). Then write out a plan describing how you will instead fill your life with the things of God (love, patience, peace, grace).

I may be in the minority, but I am a person who likes rules. Those who know me know that I am a rule follower, so being told exactly what is expected of me, what the “rules” are, is where I thrive. I don’t like not knowing if what I’m doing is okay or not. I like the boundaries and I like to stay well within them. I remember growing up in church, and as I sat in youth group, it often times felt like we were being told the “rules” to being a disciple of Christ. Again, I loved this because I knew exactly what was expected, and I could become more like God if I did these things. But I know for many, these things would feel like restrictions instead of something that was indeed for their benefit.

As I have grown in my faith and matured over the years, I have come to realize why God calls us to live a certain way. I’ve understood more why He has these expectations in place for us. It is all for our good. God wants us to experience life and to experience it abundantly, but in order to have that experience, we need to search our hearts and walk in His ways. He isn’t giving us a list of rules because He is a mean father trying to prevent us from experiencing life; it is the opposite. God loves us so much that He wants to give us the pathway to live life abundantly. He knows if we are purposed in protecting our hearts and minds, it leads to a more abundant life.

There have been so many times in my life when God has challenged me to give up certain things in order to protect my heart from the schemes of the devil. A few years ago, I found myself getting really anxious every single morning, and it would continue all throughout the day. It took me awhile to figure out that it was the stories and comments I was hearing on the news that was adding to my anxiety. So, I chose to stop watching the news in the morning, and filled that time with reading and studying God’s Word. It made a huge difference in my day. Instead of beginning my day with fear and anxiety, by reading God’s word I started my day with peace and His presence. What I realized is that what I was allowing my heart to hear eventually came out in how I was conducting my life.

I think so many times we believe that it is harmless. But the truth is, we will listen to the things that we allow to have the biggest voice in our lives. The more we saturate our lives with the things of God, the deeper we walk with Him and the more our lives will reflect it. Satan uses the smallest things to distract us and keep us from God. He will use any means possible to cause us to lose focus on God and the way He is leading us. I have to protect my mind, I have to protect my heart, I have to saturate my life with the things of God…otherwise, the things and ways of this world will drag me down.

My dear friends, I encourage you to take some time today to look at your own life. Ask yourself if the things you are listening to, watching, or allowing in are protecting your heart or harming it. Then allow God to help you make the necessary changes. I guarantee that instead of feeling as though you are being restricted, you will instead find freedom and a more abundant life.

Prayer Prompt:

• Dear God, will You please help me this week? Will You help me to be better purposed about the things I am allowing into my heart? Help me evaluate the things in my life. As I evaluate, help me to get rid of the things in my life that are causing harm, and to replace them with things that will help me protect my heart. I know the things I put in will eventually come out. Help me be purposed about the things I listen to, the things I watch, and what I allow inside. I want to protect my heart, and I want the things that come in to be items that reflect You. Thank You in advance for helping me become more like You.

Psalm 51:10-12 (ESV)

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from your presence,

and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Explanation:

Check your heart. In this psalm, David was reaching out to God, asking for help in being purposed in his life. His prayer was that the Holy Spirit would guide his life and his actions, and he would never stray from that guidance.

Every year, we hear more and more about “heart health.” In fact, if you do a simple Google search on the topic, over 4.9 billion results are returned. Medical research tells us that maintaining heart health can often be achieved by eating a fiber-rich diet, lowering our fat and sugar intake, limiting our salt consumption, and exercising. Here’s the reality: Better heart health comes from purposed behaviors. If I want to strengthen my physical heart, I have to be purposed in my spiritual and emotional heart. Every behavior we do starts in the heart. Even worldly views will reflect that if your heart isn’t in it, you likely won’t succeed. Think about it—if I say I want better physical heart health, but then only eat fast food, cake, and ice cream (all things which I could easily do), my heart isn’t really committed to making a change.

It’s the same way spiritually. Every behavior starts in the heart. Let’s say you’ve made a commitment to read your Bible and spend time with God every morning. Tomorrow morning rolls around and it looks a little like this: Alarm, snooze, alarm, snooze…shower, dress, run out the door to work. Was your heart really “in it”? Choose to improve your heart health this week in whatever manner God is calling you to make a change. It starts in your heart. Be like David in this psalm—ask for help and guidance, and continually seek God’s help.

Application:

1. Check your heart. What is God asking of you today?

2. Are there behaviors that you know are unhealthy? Ask God to help you change.

Prayer Prompt:

• God, You know my heart. You know my behaviors and my tendencies. I ask that You help me be more purposed in my life so I can follow You and live more abundantly. I know You are with me, and I know You’ll never leave me. Help me to follow Your ways and behave in a manner that is pleasing to You in all areas of my life. Thank You for Your love and mercy.

Devo Plus:

• Google the song “Create In Me A Clean Heart” and listen to the verses in this psalm put to music.

Matthew 15:10-20 (NLT)

Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “Listen,” he said, “and try to understand. It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.”

Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you realize you offended the Pharisees by what you just said?”

Jesus replied, “Every plant not planted by my heavenly Father will be uprooted, so ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch.”

Then Peter said to Jesus, “Explain to us the parable that says people aren’t defiled by what they eat.”

“Don’t you understand yet?” Jesus asked. “Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer. But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.”

Explanation:

The Pharisees were religious leaders who knew about God, they just didn’t know God. The disciples were being trained by Jesus, and He would reveal Himself to them in a personal way…relational and life changing. Jesus made it clear to the disciples that who you listen to affects you. “Blind guides” is a very insightful label that Jesus gave those who knew a bunch of rules, but were blind to the power of a changed heart. Jesus clearly wants His disciples to know that real change and real life begins in the mind and heart.

We all can all talk like a Christian much faster than we can act like a Christian. All effective change starts in the heart.

Application:

1. Every stronghold in our life began with a thought. In fact, here are the steps it took for anything to become a stronghold in your life:

A thought

A consideration

An action

A repeated action

A stronghold

If you have an addiction, those steps were taken. If you are in an improper relationship, those steps were taken. If you are gripped and entangled with anything that is robbing you spiritually, it followed that sequence. Something as common as unhealthy eating choices follow that pattern. Everything that eats away our spiritual power begins with a thought. We can’t stop thoughts, but we can stop considerations. The moment thought intersects with consideration, the battle begins.

2. Voids must be filled. The key to power in our spiritual lives rests solidly on what we fill the void in our heart with. What I fill my heart and mind with is exactly what will come out. It’s a spiritual law as sure as gravity is a physical law. I can’t expect to have words of wisdom in a moment of crisis if I have not filled my mind and heart with the words of wisdom of Jesus. Whatever I have meditated on will come out in a moment of pressure.

3. This is a very stark list that Jesus gave in verse 19:

For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. This clearly emphasizes that what is allowed to grow inside our heart produces acts from murder to gossip. It all has one central incubator…our heart. None of us ever outgrow this danger. The heart has to be carefully protected for our entire earthly lives. What practical guard do you need to put in place to protect what goes in your heart?

4. Take inventory. What do you secretly think about that you would be mortified if it were known? Our passage today warns of the outcome if we don’t confess and repent of our thoughts, and allow God’s power to change the way we think.

Prayer Prompt:

Jesus, I am keenly aware that your Words are right, and I need your Holy Spirit’s power to enlighten for me the things that lurk in my heart and are producing bad responses to life. Help me see me, and help me be willing to stop participating in those things that feed the thoughts of my heart and mind in a way contrary to Your nature. I ask for your Holy Spirit’s power to stop allowing myself to be exposed to anything that feeds the darkness. Empower me to feed myself from your Word and presence. Cleanse my mind and heart, and purify my thoughts…I ask, in Jesus’s name.

Devo Plus:

I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. (Psalm 101:3a, NLT)

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2, NLT)

Proverbs 4:23-27 (NLT)

Guard your heart above all else,

for it determines the course of your life.

Avoid all perverse talk;

stay away from corrupt speech.

Look straight ahead,

and fix your eyes on what lies before you.

Mark out a straight path for your feet;

stay on the safe path.

Don’t get sidetracked;

keep your feet from following evil.

Explanation:

The book of Proverbs includes a collection of writings from ancient Eastern sources, but most of the book is written by King Solomon, the wisest man to ever live besides Jesus (1 Kings 4:29). The proverbs in the book are short sentences or sayings that teach the reader morals, values, and wisdom or “the right way” to live drawn from life experiences. This interesting book, which is divided into four sections, often contrasts wise living verses foolish thinking. The above verse is from the introductory section, and is written from the perspective of a father giving wise instructions to his son on the ways of life. The father is giving him practical knowledge and skill on how to live in a world that honors God and others.

We always want to examine what we allow our eyes to see and our ears to hear, because if we are not proactive in this, it can quickly affect our mind and heart. Our mind is how we think about a situation but our heart is how we truly feel. If I believe in something with my heart, then my actions will reflect that belief. The Apostle Paul said “for it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved (Romans 10:10). We want our hearts to be pure, so we avoid arguing with others and using bad language. We must be careful who we allow in our lives as friends and what we do with our time. God wants us to focus on our goals in life and not fall into temptation. He wants us to consider wise council and to always seek His Word before making difficult decisions in life. God wants us to trust Him with our whole heart and not mimic the actions of this world. Like the wise advice of the father in this proverb speaking to his son, we want to please our heavenly Father in the choices we make and living healthy Christian lives.

Application:

1. Do you pray and consult God before you make an important decision, or is He often an after-thought?

2. Have you thought about the people who you chose to associate with on a daily basis? Do you feel that you are a positive influence in their lives, and reflect Jesus?

3. How do you respond to God? Do you trust Him with your heart?

4. Do you guard your heart and mind in situations you know will negatively impact you? If not, how can you begin to make choices to begin this?

Prayer Prompt:

Ask God to show you areas in your life that have caused you to sin or fall into temptation.

Ask for wisdom in these areas because you are a child of God and He loves you.

Pray for forgiveness and opportunities to seek Him throughout your day. Put your trust in God that He will protect and guard your heart as you pursue His love.

Devo Plus:

Read all of Proverbs 4 with the mindset of a loving father wanting his child to succeed in the very best life possible.

Luke 10:38-42 (ESV)

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Explanation:

On the surface, this passage seems to be a call to abandon service for the contemplative life. It seems Jesus is saying to forgo any work, and just spend time praying and studying, because that is the “best” thing to do. But Jesus’s rebuke of Martha is more subtle and more challenging than that. Martha is doing good work. She is caring for multiple guests and preparing everything that needs done to host this famous Rabbi, His disciples, and possibly even a large crowd. It takes a lot of work to prepare and care for that situation well. It would honor God to handle that situation well.

But a few things happen here. One, it says Martha was distracted. Service can be a blinder if we let doing things for Jesus trump the relationship with Jesus. Because Martha said yes to serving, she missed the best thing standing right in front of her…Jesus. Busyness kept her from recognizing a better path in that moment, it kept her from seeing what would be good for her and everyone else around her. Second, her busyness was self-assigned (and this is my imagination reading into the gaps of the text). Jesus didn’t ask her to do all that she was doing. I am sure Jesus was appreciative of the care, but more so, He wanted time with Martha. Lastly, her busyness led her to self-righteousness and jealousy. Martha was a little ticked she had to do it all by herself, and who would blame her? But Jesus would not let her self-imposed service rob Mary from choosing the “best” thing, the “first” thing.

Martha lost sight of the fact that service flows out of relationship. This is what Jesus wanted Martha to understand…that loving Jesus comes before serving Jesus.

Application:

1. Have you ever found yourself skipping quiet times to do things for God?

2. When service comes before relationship, often the wrong product comes out of our service. For Martha, it was jealousy. Have you ever tried to do the right thing, but found yourself grumpy, dissatisfied, or even frustrated for doing the right thing?

3. Have you ever tried to make yourself busy to avoid spending time with Jesus? Think through and confess what is going on in your heart that makes you want to do more for God than be with God.

Prayer Prompts:

Ask God to reveal the motives of your heart today.

Ask Him to help you desire the relationship with Him far more than serving Him.

Devo Plus:

Read the Parable of the Sower in Luke 8:4-15, and see how Jesus describes how easily the Word of God is choked out by the busyness of life.

Colossians 3:1-3 (NLT)

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.

Explanation:

From a prison cell, Paul wrote this book (letter) to a group of believers he was getting reports about, but had never met. He wrote to them so they would not fall victim to false teaching. Paul knew that knowing the truth about Jesus and the power of the gospel would be the best protection against deception. The false teachers at Colosse had attacked the supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus.

They had attempted to seduce believers into thinking true spirituality is found in more knowledge or rules. Paul knew from experience that Jesus was as deep in God as you can go.

Putting Jesus first means you take the time to get to know who you were created to be, and let go of the rules in your subconscious mind telling you how you should behave. To truly put Jesus first, you have to let go of what others think, and follow Him and learn of Him.

Application:

1. How do you set your sights on the realities of heaven? Jesus sits in the place of honor in heaven, and if He sits in a place of honor in your heart and mind, it will change everything for you. Jesus will infuse your life with hope, when He is central.

2. How would thinking on things in heaven change your thought life? Practical ways to train your mind to think on things of heaven is to be purposed about it. Download the app “Dwell” and utilize it while doing your grooming in the morning, invest in ways of listening to worship music in your car, read a faith-based blog in the waiting room, listen to a podcast while you cook. Yes, you need quiet time in the Word and prayer, but there is a lot of thinking going on in between, and we can choose influences that position our thoughts on Jesus. We are to be preoccupied with what gets top billing in heaven.

3. What heavenly values capture your heart, emotions, thoughts, ideas, and actions?

Prayer Prompt:

Jesus, as I go about my day today, I desire Your presence and Your leading. I ask You to reveal Yourself to me in each layer of my day. May I hear Your voice speak life in me and through me. May I be drawn close to Your heart, and see my world through Your eyes. Touch me in a fresh way, and may I ever be grateful for my life, the life You died for.

Devo Plus:

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. (Colossians 2:6-9, NLT)

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:9-13 (ESV)

But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

Explanation:

At this time in history, people offered meat to idols and false gods as a sacrifice. Many of the “educated” men in Corinth believed that because they knew there were no false gods, it was okay for Christians to eat the meat that others had left as a sacrifice to their gods. Paul steps in and tells them that they need to be careful…other people are watching them. There were people in their community who had lived their lives believing in the false gods, and had just become Christians. They were less mature in their relationship with the one true God, and in the above scripture, are referred to as “weak in conscience.” It doesn’t mean they weren’t as smart as the next guy; they just were less mature in their faith. When they ate the meat that the other Christian men had deemed acceptable, which they had previously known as unacceptable, it caused them issues in their conscience. Even though they had given up their old beliefs, it had been engrained in them that meat sacrificed in this way was not to be eaten.

Paul lays it out like this to the Corinthians: Even if it’s good for you, it may not be good for the guy next to you. If you are causing injury to his conscience, you need to back off, so your brother doesn’t stumble or fall. What’s safe for you may be quite dangerous for the person next to you. We need to judge our actions in the context of how it affects those around us.

Application:

1. Does knowing that your actions could cause someone else to fall, make you aware of things that need changed in your life so you can be a better role model?

2. God wants us to lift each other up, not cause each another to stumble. Are there opportunities for you to turn a potential “stumbling block” into something positive for those around you?

Prayer Prompt:

God, you know our hearts. You know our intentions. Help us to be good role models for those around us, whether it’s at home, in the workplace, or in a social setting.

Allow your light to shine through my actions, and keep me from being a roadblock for others as they pursue a relationship with You. Forgive me in the areas where I have failed. Thank You for Your grace and mercy and my salvation.

Devo Plus:

To reinforce today’s scripture, read Psalm 56:13 and Romans 14:13.