Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Devotionals by J.M. Farro


Healing Thoughts


"Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about."
- Philippians 4:8 TLB



Devotional Player

Some years ago, I sought counseling for anxiety and depression. I remember sharing with my counselor how angry and resentful I was toward some of the people in my life. In one of our sessions together, he told me that it was all right for me to have negative thoughts about others, as long as I didn't act on them. This gave me some much needed--although undeserved--reassurance. After many months of counseling, I gained a measure of relief, but I never gained the freedom I so desperately needed. It wasn't until I began studying the Bible years later that I realized why.

The truth is, I could never have peace and joy as long as my mind was filled with negative thoughts about others. I know now that our thoughts are seeds, and when we sow the wrong kind, we can reap a bitter harvest of depression and despair. Jesus talked about the thought-life and He said that "evil thoughts" make us "unclean." (Mark 7:20 NIV) In Revelation, He says, "I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person." (Revelation 2:23 NLT) It should be obvious then that God is aware of our thoughts, and there will be consequences for wrong ones. Perhaps it didn't matter to my counselor what I thought of others, as long as I kept it to myself. But it matters to God. He says, "In your hearts, do not think evil of each other." (Zechariah 7:10 NIV) As long as I was entertaining bitter and critical thoughts about others, I was out of God's will, far from the life of peace and joy that I craved. I was spending too much time focusing on all the people who hurt me, and on all the different ways they hurt me. And it was destroying me mentally, emotionally and physically.

God knows that wrong thinking is highly destructive to our well-being, so the Bible has a lot to say about our thought-life. When the apostle Paul talks about spiritual warfare in Second Corinthians, he instructs us to reject all wrong thinking, and to make all our thoughts "obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV) In Romans 12:2, Paul tells us not to think like the rest of the world, but to be renewed in our minds so we can think like God and do His will. We can re-program our minds by devoting ourselves to God's Word--which is Truth (John 17:17)--so that we won't be easily deceived by Satan, other people, or our own carnal thoughts. And we can pray like David did: "Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires." (Psalm 51:10 TLB) If we will cooperate with God to change the way we think, He will turn our lives around.

The verse above in Philippians 4:8 (TLB) tells us that we need to think about things that are true, good, right, pure and lovely. And we must focus on the good in others. We also need to think of all the things we can praise and thank God for. As we sow seeds of forgiveness, kindness, and thankfulness, we will reap an abundance of peace, joy, and healing. The prophet Isaiah said of the Lord, "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, whose thoughts are fixed on You!" (Isaiah 26:3 NLT) Once I began to put my trust in God, and to keep my mind on Him and His promises, I began to enjoy more peace and wholeness than I ever dreamed possible. As I determined to change my thoughts, God changed my life. Trust Him to do the same for you.

Prayer: Lord, give me a new awareness of how my thoughts affect my spirit, soul, mind, and body. Teach me how to discipline my mind so that I won't dwell on things that are harmful to me, or displeasing to You. Help me to renew my mind with Your Word, and to devote myself to prayer, demonstrating my total dependence upon You and Your grace. Thank You that as I sow good thoughts, I will reap a harvest of peace, joy, and well-being!

- J. M. Farro

 

go to main Devotionals page
go to Devotionals archive

 

 

                 
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

Search JFH



This Tuesday, July 29, 2025
ALBUMS
Magdalene Rose The Heart That Bloomed After Death [Rockfest]

SINGLES
Josiah Queen Cloud and Fire - Single [Capitol CMG]
Stryper Still The Light - Single [Frontiers]

This Friday, August 1, 2025
ALBUMS
Above the Clouds The Messengers [Polished Arrow]
Crash Rickshaw Big Sir - EP [Velvet Blue]
Illbrio Part Two/font> (independent)
McKamey Legacy Holding to Truth [Horizon]
Brandon Mitchell GAMETIME [Syntax]
Ordained Thunder Roar [Girder]
V1 Worship Archives [DREAM Worship]

SINGLES
Ayo Shamir, tonyxtrotter, Yung Drew, Christyan Scarborough All Dog$ Go To Heaven - Single [Syntax]
BASECAMP Lord's Day - Single [Polished Arrow]
Dan Bremnes Human - Single [Curb]
Lauren Daigle Let It Be A Hallelujah - Single [Centricity]
Dave Hall Safe Part II (ft. Megan Tossi & Kayo Bracey) - Single [Syntax]
JusRzd Receipts (ft. GB) - Single [Syntax]
K3hlab iPraise (Remix) (ft. CJ Emulous & Xay Hill) - Single [Syntax]
Mell Omii Trav Hit His Parlay - Single [Syntax]
Jeannie Ortega Back to Brooklyn - Single [Syntax]
Q-Flo Hilltop Cypher (ft. DJ Mykael V, Glenn Ray, Parris Chariz & Prodi Da Prodigal) - Single [Syntax]
Sleeping At Last Believe - Single (independent)
Vineyard Worship Swing Wide - Single [Vineyard UK]
Solachi Voz Knew Me (ft. GODSVOIC3 & Key'ijah) - Single [Syntax]
VOTA Try - Single (independent)

VINYL
Disciple Attack! (Limited Run Vinyl) Vinyl [Girder]

Next Friday, August 8, 2025
ALBUMS
CXMMXNS All The Praise Belongs [Provident]
Blessing Offor Real [Capitol CMG]
Zane Walls Think About Me - EP [DREAM]

SINGLES
Coqui LIVING 2 DIE - Single [DREAM]
We Are Messengers Losing You - Single [Curb]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Join honey and save on online purchases!
Need proofreading and editing help? We've got you covered! Click here to learn more
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images