Mind Filling Meditation

Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious -- the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse...Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.
Philippians 3:8-9 The Message

Just a few weeks ago I was reminded of these powerful words that Paul shared with some people he dearly loved. I've felt particularly bombarded for awhile now with my mind taking me in all sorts of directions. Seems like just about anytime I read or watch something in an effort and desire to keep informed, the result is cynicism, doubt, suspicion, fear, anger or a combination of several or all of these. Fully realizing that none of these results is chronicled anywhere as being fruit yielded from walking intimately with the Creator of the Universe and me, I asked Him a simple question: What's up with all of this?

Almost immediately I was reminded of the verse in 2 Corinthians 10:5 that commands believers in Jesus to take captive every thought. This prompted another question: So what should I be thinking? And this is when the above insights and instructions from Paul dropped in.

I've been asking God to show me these things that are true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious, the best, the beautiful, things to praise. And He's obliged. Two nights ago I awoke thinking about a certain situation that irked me. True Father reminded me that I was in charge of my mind....to take every thought captive. This time it was my turn to say yes.

Immediately Hawaii popped into my consciousness. I traveled to the islands in my minds eye. My thoughts allowed me to bask in the fresh and clean Pacific breezes, experience the beauty and scent of a simple white plumeria flower, taste amazingly sweet papaya and more.

Admittedly, these are baby steps against the assaults that our culture, my habits, and the wily one has been wreaking on my mind. But they're steps in the right direction! Just last night after getting in bed for the night, I remembered that we had a full moon. I got up, went outside, and feasted on the beauty.

Upon returning to bed I found myself no longer sleepy...wide awake. I picked up Leanne Payne's book, The Healing Presence, from my bedside table and found the page I'd left off reading a week or so ago. And this is the 4th paragraph I read:

"As St. Gregory the Great has said: "If you do not delight in higher things, you most certainly will delight in lower things." This is true of a society, a nation, a world, as well as each and every individual.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things. Philippians 4:8

We have a way of becoming (in a sense) what we set our eyes upon. The imagery really matters." (p. #140)

As I smiled and turned out the light I had a sure sense that the amazing God I've chosen to follow winked with a grin........at me.