A Mind Fixed on Jesus

   "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 everything, 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, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things." Philippians 4:4-8

   There is much that has stuck out to me recently regarding this chapter, for the Lord is good!
   1) Our minds should be fixed on Jesus.
   2) It is God and Him alone that embodies all these qualities listed.
   3) When we are truly seeking His will, He is the one to bring peace.

   Jesus is our cornerstone. Ephesians 2:19b-20 says, "[you are] members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone." It also says in 1 Corinthians 3:11, "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ." It goes on to say in this same chapter, "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" Because He is our everything, this is where our minds and hearts need to be!!! We are His temple and where does the temple lay?... on the cornerstone. Can I make this any more plain?
   The things that are listed above, these qualities, these traits, these attributes...the one who embodies ALL of these is God. If these are the things that we should be thinking on, then it makes sense that He is who we should be thinking about. Please remember, we can never exhaust Him because our minds can never completely wrap around who He is.
   One thing to leave you with. We are human, we will fail, we will still sin. However, God is bigger than all our sin. 1 John 4:4 "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." It is when we are devoted to Him, seeking Him, surrendering ourselves over to Him that He brings peace. A peace that truly surpasses understanding! He has done this recently for me in my life. I do keep sinning against Him, but He loves it when I come back to Him and keep pushing through the darkness to find Him. "Abba, Father, Bapa...please help me."