On that day, this song will be sung in the land of Judah:
Ours is a strong city!
God makes salvation its walls and ramparts.
Open the gates and let a righteous nation enter,
a nation that keeps faith.
Those with sound thoughts you will keep in peace,
in peace because they trust in you.
Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord is a rock for all ages.
He has thrown down those living on high,
and he will level the lofty town,
leveling it down to the earth;
he will bring it down to dust.
The feet trample it,
the feet of the poor,
the steps of the needy.
The way of the righteous is level;
you clear a path for the righteous.
In the path of your justice, Lord, we wait for you;
with all our being, we long for your name and your acclaim.
Reflection
We don’t think enough about our thinking. Many of us allow our minds to do whatever they want – to obsess over whatever is making for fear, anxiety, anger or sadness in the moment. We seldom stop to even consider how we’re pushing ourselves ever deeper into those emotions. The reality is that we CAN’T give free rein to every thought. Danger lies that way. Somehow, we have to recognize when our minds begin wandering down those paths. And when we catch ourselves, we’ve got to put up roadblocks and turn back to safer roads – to thoughts that lead us away from worry and toward trust. It takes practice!
Whenever your thoughts begin to wander, remember the LORD your Rock, and think about all that God has done for you in the past. If we can keep our thoughts sound, God promises to keep us in peace.
For Pondering & Prayer
Are there specific times of the day when you find your thoughts slipping toward negative emotions? How can you turn those times into opportunities for prayer?
Where do you see negative thinking impeding progress in your family, friends, workplace, organization, church or school? How can you speak a sound word today to guide others toward a better path?
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