"And
the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and
minds through Christ Jesus. Finally,
brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever
things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be
any praise, think on these things"
Philippians
4: 7-8
Just the other day I was sitting in the school
parking lot waiting for my stepdaughter and husband to come back and I couldn't help
but notice the sign to the right of me that said, "Reserved Parking
Only", and even though it was long after school was over and nearly
everyone was already gone home I dared not park there. That space was reserved for someone in
particular and it was no telling when they would show up again. I feared getting a fine, or having to move if
I was caught parked there. While in
prayer this morning I was praying for all the impure thoughts and things that
could get in my heart and I asked God to make my heart only a place where He
can dwell.
Have you ever stopped to think about all the
clutter and junk that can get inside your heart just from the things you see
and read each day? The Devil will cloud
our mind with filth and garbage and he looks for opportunities every chance
that he gets. Even when we sleep we are
not safe from the tactics of Satan. We
can reserve parking only for God by constantly keeping our hearts and minds
stayed upon Him. In his letter to the
Philippians the Apostle Paul was instructing them how to keep the peace of God
by being thankful in everything and making their requests known to God by
continuing to pray (verse 6). If we are
more apt to think of the pure, true, just, lovely, and honest things in our own
lives and that of others, we are less likely to give up our parking space to
the tricks and schemes of the Devil. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are
pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if
there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (verse 8).
The Devil knows that He is not allowed to park where God is but it's our
job and duty to keep him out. We can
only do that by keeping our mind stayed on God and trusting Him to keep us in
that perfect peace. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is
stayed on thee: because he trusteth in
thee” Isaiah 26:3
When we have those stressful days,
God’s peace can often soothe
And bring us such a quiet hope
That chases away the blues
So when you feel the pressure on
Remember Jesus Christ
Receive from Him the peace He gives
As His daily dose for life!
M.S. Lowndes
"Don't allow Satan to park in your heart; keep him out with the Word
of God"
