Take control of your mind

The old saying goes, “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.” The Bible says, “Then Satan entered Judas…So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them” (Luke 22:3-4 NKJV). It seems Judas was constantly preoccupied with money, and Satan exploited it to his destruction. During the three years that Judas followed Jesus, he heard Him repeatedly warn about the danger of loving money, but he failed to get the message. Your mind never stops working, and if you don’t take control of it, it will take control of you. Paul wrote, “Whatsoever things are true…noble…just…pure…lovely…of good report…if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” What you become is a direct result of what your mind dwells on. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Life consists of what a man [or woman] is thinking about all day.” John Locke said, “The actions of men [or women] are the greatest interpreters of their thoughts.” James Allen said, “You are today where your thoughts have brought you. You will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.” This is why the apostle Peter warns us to “prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control” (1 Peter 1:13 NLT). It’s why the psalmist wrote, “Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me…Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:13-14 NKJV). Note the words “meditation of my heart.” The word for you today is—take control of your mind.