I was just thinking…

I have come to enjoy the now-popular phrase “lives rent free in my mind.” There are plenty of songs, poems, pictures, movies, and memories that I allow to take up space in my mind. They stay because I want them to stay and I gladly give them space because they make me happy. I dare say everyone has such welcome guests to whom they offer free lodging.

There are also unwelcome “freeloaders” who, unlike the other guests, take up space against my will. These squatters are negative thoughts, unhappy or traumatic memories, and most of all, lies my enemy tells me. “You’re worthless.” “People only keep you around for what you can do for them–they don’t really care about you.” “Do you really think God is concerned about your problems when the whole world is on fire?” These are examples of ways our enemy tries to take up space in our minds. He’s crafty for sure, and his lies sound true sometimes, especially when we are not standing firm in God’s truth about who we are.

In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he outlines a method to kick the freeloaders to the curb. You see, the enemy speaking lies into people’s minds is not a new phenomenon. Since the very first humans on the planet, the enemy has whispered into our ears things contrary to the truth God sings over us (Zephaniah 3:17). We have to choose which voice to believe and allow to enter the “for rent” spaces in our minds. Here is what Paul wrote to the believers in Philippi:

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 (ESV Bible)