Devotions
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“…for it is God who works in you, both to will and to act according to his good pleasure.” Phil. 2:13
“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.” Phil. 4:8 If I understand these two passages correctly, God doesn’t just save us so we can go to heaven. Someday. He saves us (through his grace, not by our works) so our lives can be changed right now. And that change, begun in our hearts at the moment of salvation, must move on out into our thinking processes. Otherwise, it will never make its way into our behavior. I have heard it said that ultimately, people do what they want to do. That’s the bottom line. And that’s why it is necessary that we let God change our “want to.” Frankly, sometimes my “want to” just isn’t right. I want the wrong things – not bad things, really, just not God’s best for me. And in order to make the right decisions and do the right things, I have to get my “want to” under control. Phil. 4:8 gives me a formula for that. Control my thoughts. If my mind starts to wander down the wrong path, I have to exercise my self-control (part of the fruit of the Spirit) to corral my thoughts. Is this thought honorable? Is it worthy of praise? If not, why am I allowing myself to dwell on it? I can’t control everything in my life, but according to Phil. 4:8, I can control my thoughts. And I not only can, I must. It’s the only way to holy living. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson: Sow a thought, reap an action. Sow an action, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a destiny. God bless your destiny! Nell Ritchey
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March 2023
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