What Consumes Your Mind? 

“…take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5. 

Have you ever paid attention to how much media you consume every day? How much news do you watch or read? How much time do you spend scrolling social media platforms? How many shows have you binge-watched lately? 

I’m sure you’ve noticed how consumed people are with news sources and other media outlets. I get it; at times it’s extremely difficult not to be captivated by all the news around the world. In 2020, while people were at home social distancing or in quarantine, many suddenly had time to be immersed in more media. To stay informed about COVID-19, the election, and the racial tensions in our nation, I began to watch and read the news more than I ever had before. 

But, as the days of 2020 turned into weeks and the weeks into months, I realized I was feeling anxious, depressed, and discouraged. As I engaged with others in my church and friends in the community, I realized that they had similar feelings—feelings of fear and thoughts of doubt. 

While connecting with people and reflecting on my own life, it became clear that many of God’s people, myself included, were forgetting what His Word tells us: “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.” Philippians 4:8.

As we near the end of 2021 and begin making plans for 2022, what if you made the decision now to filter what you allow your eyes to see and your mind to think about? What if you made a choice to think on the spiritual things of God and less on things of the world? 

I believe this begins by making the decision to meet with the Lord, daily, in His Word. After all, the Lord tells us, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16–17.   

I can confidently express that you can trust His word always to be right, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, and excellent. His Word will never fail to point you to the one, Jesus Christ, who is worthy of praise. God’s word will enable you to filter what you set your heart and mind upon. He will equip you for productive living and train you in righteousness. 

So, as the time ticks onward, please allow me to remind you of this timeless truth: “Blessed is the one…whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever he does prospers.” Psalms 1:1–3..