Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’ s will is— his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12: 2
“ I’ m stuck... I’ m stuck... I’ m stuck... I’ m stuck... I’ m stuck...”
Those two words looped endlessly through my mind, day after day and all day long. Running repetitively along the same neural pathway,“ I’ m stuck...” carved deeper grooves within my brain for the same sad words to flow down, causing me to become mentally more“ stuck” than ever. My inner dialogue felt like an inner cell.
Sadly, this is a sort of solitary confinement that millions of us face. We’ re imprisoned by negative patterns of thinking and in desperate need of a prison break. Thankfully, there’ s bondage-breaking power in gratitude— and it turns out there are psychological and physiological reasons that support what God has been telling us all along.
Before we jump into the science of gratitude, let’ s see what God’ s Word has to say. The passage you’ re about to read may be a familiar one to you; perhaps you even memorized it as a child.
Because of that, I caution you to read it slowly. Ask God to bring fresh revelation from His
Word. He’ s such a good communicator. He doesn’ t hide His meaning; He’ s not elusive. He’ s clear-spoken, ready and waiting to speak clearly to us today:
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, what- ever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable— if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me— put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.( Philippians 4:4 – 9)
Here’ s our jumping-off place: When we actively shift our thoughts from things that are untrue and focus instead on what God tells us is true— as well as noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy— the God of peace Himself is with us, guiding us from chaos to calm and from hopelessness to hope. This passage is so meaty that we could spend all thirty days meditating on it and applying it to our lives. But for now, I invite you to choose to meditate on things that are true— not necessarily things that
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