“…but establish the righteous; for You, Who try the hearts and emotions and thinking powers, are a righteous God.”  (Psalms 7:9)

My emotions are fickle.  One day I’m confident and then the next I’m doubtful.  One moment I’m in love and the next I’m angry.  Sometimes I’m on the verge of tears for no reason at all and then other times when I should cry my heart is cold.  I used to latch onto every feeling and ride it’s course and then jump train to ride the next emotion going in the opposite direction.

We are not our emotions and we are not our feelings.  It took me a long time to understand this, and so for years I lived on an emotional roller-coaster.  If I awoke in the morning feeling a certain way I would think…   “Well…this is going to be one of days…” and sure enough it was, one of those days; but it didn’t have to be.  I had the power to renew my mind–to actually think in another way– that would alter the outcome of my day for the better.  God has shown me that I don’t have to be subject to my feelings.

Feelings strongly woo us, so it’s wise to evaluate and question their validity; and the sooner we do this the better.  The longer I ponder over a negative thought, the deeper it’s grounded in my psyche and the harder it is to get rid of.  Guess what?  It works the same way with positive thoughts!  The more you nourish and cultivate them the more they take root and grow.  II Corinthians says that our “…inward man is renewed day by day.”

Psalms 84 tells us that it is possible to “go from strength to strength” in our thought life. This meaning that whatever we feed will grow, and the more we feed it the stronger it becomes.

Paul in Ephesians encourages us to “be renewed in the spirit of your mind.”  

This renewal process, unlike salvation, is not a one time process, but rather something that should be done everyday, and for myself, multiple times a day. Quoting scripture I’ve committed to memory also helps me to renew my mind.  One such verse is Romans 12:2,

“And be not conformed to this world; but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

My goal, and I often fall short, is to try to emulate the mind of Christ.  Philippians 2:5 says,

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”

That’s why it’s so important to study the life of Christ.  So many Christians think they know Christ, but haven’t really taken the time to truly learn of Him for themselves.  It’s time we throw away all of our preconceived ideas and come to Christ with an open mind; prepared to meet him for the first time.

God is righteous, and as a righteous God he will ground and establish our hearts if we commit our thoughts and emotions to him.

Let us with David say,

“…establish the righteous, for you, who try the hearts and emotions and thinking powers, are a righteous God.”

We can trust him.

“When you relate to Me in confident trust, there is no limit to how much I can strengthen you.  Remember that I am your Song.  I want you to share My Joy, living in conscious awareness of My Presence.  Rejoice as we journey together toward heaven; join Me in singing my Song.” __ Jesus  (Jesus Calling by Sarah Young)

My Prayer:  Dear Lord, I submit my mind to you.  Establish and ground me this day, so that I can see and love others, just as you did, when you walked this earth.  Christ I want to know you…please teach me.  Help me to be aware of your presence. Thank you for your unconditional love, a love that led you to take my place on an old rugged cross.  Thank you for the victory we have in your Resurrection. In your powerful name I make these requests, Amen.

(A publication of “Walking Through Psalms” series)

(A participation in Scripture Sabbath event)

(A participation of Devotional Friday event)