"Think on these things. . ."

<sup>The human mind is an incredibly amazing thing, capable of so much more than we even begin to realize.  I think we often underestimate the effect of our thoughts upon our ultimate actions.  In actuality, thoughts are the parents of our actions.  It is rare that actions occur without some form of preceding thought .

That being the case, our minds are a place we should guard very carefully.  Yet, how often have I been guilty of just letting my mind run free?  Just letting it flit about to whatever thought it may want to light upon at the moment?</sup>

The Apostle Paul warned us that our battles in this life are not " against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places," (Ephesians 6:12.)  We wrestle in the mind, and in the spirit, not with our hands and arms.  The feet will follow where the mind is thinking, and the actions will be physical signs of what has been floating around in the brain.  "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:" (Proverbs 23:7.)

So just how do we guard our thoughts?  How do we keep that most secret area of our person safe?  First, we pray, as did King David, for the Lord to search our hearts and know our thoughts:

^"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting," (Psalm 139: 23, 24.)

Then we make the conscious choice to think on the right things, to point our thoughts to the things which are edifying, encouraging and comforting:

^"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8