True

True

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.

“I FEEL LIKE nothing ever goes right.” The text came in on my phone late one night. One of my five children was having a hard time.

“What do you mean?” I asked, looking for more information.

She went on to explain a current problem she was facing that had suddenly come up without warning. I listened, offered comfort for what she was facing, and then tried to rebut her claim. I reminded her of all the good that was happening in her life at the time—how she had just completed a college course and gotten an A, how she had a good job that she enjoyed, and how many people she had around her who loved her. Even with the reminder, I knew it was still hard for her to believe it, so I ended by telling her I’d be praying for her.

That night, my daughter was struggling to take her thoughts and feelings captive to what was true (see 2 Corinthians 10:5). All of us, at times, can allow our thoughts and then feelings to lead us to a place where nothing seems right. And although it can be good and even healthy to pay attention to our feelings, they are not always an indicator of what is true.

As Christians, we are encouraged to fix our thoughts on what is true. Scripture doesn’t say to focus on what makes us happy or what only feels good. Because sometimes even what is true is a hard thing. As followers of Jesus, we don’t avoid reality—just as we don’t avoid our feelings—but we can always put it in the perspective of what is true and right and pure. One way we can do this is by turning our worries, our fears, and our doubts over to God, praising him for what is true and clinging to him no matter what our circumstances may be.

Lord, help me today to take all my worries, fears, and doubts to you in prayer and focus on what is true. Amen.

-Kendra

One Good Step: Today if your thoughts and feelings begin to spiral negatively out of control, stop, pray, and ask God to help you focus on what is true.