While doing a bit of channel surfing last night, I came across Dr. Charles Stanley — venerable pastor of the airwaves.  Nearly everything I’ve heard from Brother Stanley I’ve loved — especially a series on grace that a friend loaned me years ago.  Those messages were life-altering.

 Last night he was talking about having a grid for our minds, using it to filter out the negative and to instead focus on what’s good and holy and uplifting.  I know you’ve probably heard plenty of messages on how to control our thoughts.  Could I share one more with you?

Here were a few questions that Stanley gave to use as a mind grid.  When a thought comes into your mind ask yourself:

    1.    What is its source?

    2.    Is it scripturally sound?

    3.    Where will it lead me?

    4.    Will it get me where I want to go?

If you know me at all, you’d realize that I’m a melancholy of sort.  As a result, I can allow negative thoughts to bring me down so easily.  This temperament of mine makes it even more critical that I filter out thoughts that lead me into an emotional tail spin.  That’s why I loved this message last night.

I recall an incident where a volunteer and I had a bit of a conflict.  Then next day she didn’t show up.   Nor did she come the following day.  My mind began to conjure up some negative scenarios — “I must have driven her away,” or “She’s mad at me and trying to get back at me by not showing up.”

Two days later she was back here, happily working in her main area.  It turned out that the reason she didn’t come in had nothing to do with our little spat.  She had just been sick.

Today I’m going to try keeping those thought filters on throughout the day.  Meditating on Phil. 4:4-9 will really help.  And I just have the feeling that the more I meditate on the Lord and His goodness, and keep out those unhealthy thoughts, the more pleasant person I’ll be around others. 

What helps you filter out the destructive thoughts and thus keep your mind at peace?

Jim