James 1:26-27 CSB
If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion is useless and he deceives himself. [27] Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Psalm 143:8-10 CSB
Let me experience your faithful love in the morning, for I trust in you. Reveal to me the way I should go because I appeal to you. [9] Rescue me from my enemies, LORD; I come to you for protection. [10] Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me on level ground.
True Faith
It is a tragic thing in our Christian walk when we lose the love that we first had for the Lord—the love we felt when we first believed, a cleansing wind that lifted us to the heights of Heaven. As Christians, we need to go back in time to grasp that fresh devotion and hold onto it daily. Every day is a new beginning with the Lord, living in the present grace that we have.
Because it is so easy to forget who we are in Christ, we find strength when we spend time in God’s Word, keeping our minds focused on the path ahead. The writer of the Psalms realized this deeply when he prayed, “Let me experience your faithful love in the morning, for I trust in you. Reveal to me the way I should go because I appeal to you.”
It is so easy to carry yesterday into today. Even in our dreams, we rehash the past, the mind trying to make sense of the things that went before. There are many troubles that all people, including Christians, face in this world. A dysfunctional family, problems in the marriage, a frantic, demanding schedule, sickness, disloyalty of the ones we trusted, and the list goes on.
What dominates our mind controls our heart and our actions. This is often evident in the things we say—the complaining, the sharp words, the judgment of others. There are times when we lash out against the innocent due to something someone else has done. How do we control our tongue? It begins by capturing our thoughts and turning our focus to the Lord.
What dominates our thoughts and meditation indeed shapes our view of ourselves, those around us, and of God Himself. When we search for close fellowship with God by meditating on His Word and praying, we give the Holy Spirit room to bring us out of our destructive thinking and patterns. By doing this, we exchange the constant loop of current problems—whether caused by our own actions or the world—for a truly godly view. The sunshine of the Spirit floods our soul when our mind is on the things of God, and the loving Spirit steers us in a godly direction for the day.
The Christian life is one of daily renewal. Many find that by starting their day anchored in God’s Word, they can put off the old self and allow the Holy Spirit to conform their desires and speech to the image of Christ before they even interact with others. However, if a morning routine isn’t possible, others find deep renewal by setting apart time for an evening walk with God, or dedicating a quiet space in the middle of a busy afternoon. The specific hour matters less than the intentional heart.
Disturbances always happen during the day—a tipping point that pulls our thoughts away from God outside of our normal time of prayer and meditation in God’s Word. To handle these blind spots, we need a plan. First, we can use scripture we have memorized to remind us of God’s love and daily provision. Second, we can formulate a quick way to commune with God in a quiet space. This might be a safe, isolated area in a busy office, or simply the privacy of our own minds as the busy world swirls around us.
Whatever captures the meditation of our mind indeed captures the desires of our heart. This is reflected by what we say and do. We are inward creatures that reflect what is inside of us outward, and this usually starts with the tongue. When our inner life is saturated with a daily experience of His faithful love, our outer life naturally begins to produce the fruit of a pure, active, and true faith.
Reflection Questions
- What is currently running on a “constant loop” in my mind today, and how can I actively replace that mental reel with the truth of God’s Word?
- When disturbances hit me throughout the day, what is my immediate “plan of escape” to find quick, quiet communion with the Lord?
- How does the way I spoke to or about others yesterday reveal what has actually been dominating my private thoughts and meditations?
Prayer
Father,
Thank You for the promise of a new beginning every single morning, where our past is fully covered under the grace of Jesus and our sins are remembered no more. Forgive us for the times we have let the heavy burdens of yesterday, the brokenness of our circumstances, or the disloyalty of others dictate our thoughts and poison our speech. Holy Spirit, search our hearts and help us capture our thoughts before they turn into sharp, uncontrolled words. Teach us to do Your will, and let Your gracious Spirit lead us on level ground today. Give us the discipline to seek Your face first thing in the morning, and provide us with quiet, safe spaces to reconnect with You in the middle of a chaotic world. We ask that our lives would reflect a pure, active, and true faith that honors You and serves those around us. In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
