The Joy of the Journey: Feeding Our Minds

The Joy of the Journey

Feeding Our Minds

When I was in college, we had a class titled “Intro to Microcomputers.” Today, this class would be known as “The History of the Microcomputer.”  One of the concepts we learned in this class was “garbage in, garbage out.” This was saying that if you put garbage into the computer, you cannot expect to get something good out of it.  This concept holds true for the human body, mind, and spirit.  It’s important what we are feeding our minds today. I found that watching a steady diet of any news source can cause you to begin to be very positive or negative about the world. If you watch the shopping networks long enough, you will buy something. I speak from experience here.  With that said, in today’s fast-paced world, the information we consume daily can drastically shape our thoughts, beliefs, and,ultimately, our actions. As believers, we must be careful of what we feed our minds. The Bible offers profound wisdom, guiding us to focus on what is pure, lovely, and commendable.  Proverbs 4:23 states, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” This verse emphasizes the importance of guarding our hearts and minds, as they are the source of our actions and attitudes. What we allow into our minds can influence our emotions and decisions, leading us to either righteousness or sin. Therefore, it is essential to be intentional about the content we consume.

One of the most effective ways to positively nurture our minds is by filling our minds with Scripture. Romans 12:2 encourages us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Consuming God’s Word renews our minds, helping us discern His will and align our thoughts with His truth.

In addition to filling our minds with God’s Word, we must guard our minds by avoiding negative influences. Philippians 4:8 states, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” This verse provides us with a clear directive. This verse serves as a filter for our thoughts and the media we consume. By focusing on what is good and uplifting, we can develop a mindset that reflects Christ’s love and grace.

Living in this age of technology presents unique challenges. We have an overwhelming amount of information at our fingertips, and it is easy to get caught up in negativity, gossip, or toxic content. Therefore, we must discern what we watch, read, and listen to. We can foster a healthier mental environment by intentionally choosing to engage with uplifting and encouraging content; we can foster a healthier environment.

Feeding our minds the right things is not solely an individual endeavor; it also involves the community of believers. Hebrews 10:24-25 encourages us to “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.” Surrounding ourselves with fellow believers who share our values can provide support and accountability in our endeavor to feed our minds Godly and uplifting content and thoughts.

Engaging in meaningful conversations, participating in Bible studies, praying regularly, and attending church services and events can all contribute to a healthier mindset. When we share our struggles and victories, we can uplift each other and remind one another of God’s truth and plans for our lives.

Let’s face it: it’s not easy to always feed our minds the right things. It’s a process. To lose weight, you must change your eating habits and lifestyle. Fad diets never last; only true lifestyle changes will bring about lasting results for someone’s health. To cultivate a sound mind in this crazy world, we must nourish and exercise our minds with the right things. To achieve a sound mind, we must pray, meditate on God’s Word, and trust that He has a plan that is greater than what we can see.