I will sing of your love and justice; to you, LORD, I will sing praise…. Every morning I will put to silence all the wicked in the land. PSALM 101:1, 8 The place where Satan most torments believers is in our minds. He messes with our thinking, sending thoughts of anxiety, fear, self-doubt, and God-doubt. However, God has given us the incredible power of choice. In other words, we have a choice about what thoughts our mind will entertain. The psalmist writes, “I will sing of your love and justice” (Ps. 101:1). Notice the word “will.” In fact, why don’t you circle it in the verses? The word “will” implies a choice. When life is tough, we don’t always feel like shouting an exuberant “Hallelujah! God is good!” We don’t always feel like praising God or singing. That is when our power of choice has to govern our feelings. I may not feel like being exuberant, but I can choose to pray, “God, I praise You that You are good though my circumstances don’t feel good.” When life feels dark, we can choose to put on worship music in our homes and allow the music to prompt our praise. In other words, we do not have to give in to the thoughts Satan may be throwing at us. We can intentionally choose to direct our thoughts to the lovingkindness and graciousness of God. This is the way we, in the words of the psalmist, “put to silence all the wicked” (Ps. 101:8). We choose to take every thought captive (2 Cor. 10:5). When we direct our thoughts to God, choosing to praise Him for His goodness though life may feel bad, we find peace in His presence. Selah-Pause and Reflect: How does Satan most often attack your thinking? What will be your method of combat in the future? Today’s Truth: Praise is a choice. We can choose to praise God and keep our thoughts captive to truth by an act of our will, even when life feels uncertain. Listen: “I Exalt Thee” sung by Jesus Image Worship | Jesus ’19 Pray: Holy One, I praise You for designing my mind with the ability to make choices. Oh, Father, You are so good to me! Thank You that I can choose where my thoughts will be centered. I praise You that as I fix my focus on Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith, that You will quiet anxiety and fear. Thank You that as I praise You, Satan will run. Oh, Lord, I thank You that I am protected by Your blood and that no weapon formed against me will prosper. I praise You that as I take every thought captive and focus my mind on praising You, my heart will follow. I praise You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit who strengthens my faith and gives me hope as I praise You. (Deuteronomy 30:19; Isaiah 54:17; Romans 5:5; 2 Corinthians 10:5; Hebrews 12:2)
I will sing of your love and justice; to you, LORD, I will sing praise…. Every morning I will put to silence all the wicked in the land. PSALM 101:1, 8 The place where Satan most torments believers is in our minds. He messes with our thinking, sending thoughts of anxiety, fear, self-doubt, and God-doubt. However, God has given us the incredible power of choice. In other words, we have a choice about what thoughts our mind will entertain. The psalmist writes, “I will sing of your love and justice” (Ps. 101:1). Notice the word “will.” In fact, why don’t you circle it in the verses? The word “will” implies a choice. When life is tough, we don’t always feel like shouting an exuberant “Hallelujah! God is good!” We don’t always feel like praising God or singing. That is when our power of choice has to govern our feelings. I may not feel like being exuberant, but I can choose to pray, “God, I praise You that You are good though my circumstances don’t feel good.” When life feels dark, we can choose to put on worship music in our homes and allow the music to prompt our praise. In other words, we do not have to give in to the thoughts Satan may be throwing at us. We can intentionally choose to direct our thoughts to the lovingkindness and graciousness of God. This is the way we, in the words of the psalmist, “put to silence all the wicked” (Ps. 101:8). We choose to take every thought captive (2 Cor. 10:5). When we direct our thoughts to God, choosing to praise Him for His goodness though life may feel bad, we find peace in His presence. Selah-Pause and Reflect: How does Satan most often attack your thinking? What will be your method of combat in the future? Today’s Truth: Praise is a choice. We can choose to praise God and keep our thoughts captive to truth by an act of our will, even when life feels uncertain. Listen: “I Exalt Thee” sung by Jesus Image Worship | Jesus ’19 Pray: Holy One, I praise You for designing my mind with the ability to make choices. Oh, Father, You are so good to me! Thank You that I can choose where my thoughts will be centered. I praise You that as I fix my focus on Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith, that You will quiet anxiety and fear. Thank You that as I praise You, Satan will run. Oh, Lord, I thank You that I am protected by Your blood and that no weapon formed against me will prosper. I praise You that as I take every thought captive and focus my mind on praising You, my heart will follow. I praise You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit who strengthens my faith and gives me hope as I praise You. (Deuteronomy 30:19; Isaiah 54:17; Romans 5:5; 2 Corinthians 10:5; Hebrews 12:2)
Praise the Lord
Amen .