May 17 2020
Posted by Pastor Toledo

We live in a world that is saturated with noise, and the presence of loud, competing voices can throw us into a whirlwind. In times of great stress and uncertainty such as these, the whirlwind only increases speed. However, we as Christians have a solid foundation to stand on, the foundation that Christ himself has laid for us. The Bible teaches that if we build our house on the rock, not the sand, then our house shall stand. But we must build, and we must start with our very thoughts. It is so easy to let our thought lives go unchecked, but this is not God’s will for our lives. When we are on top of our thought lives, we are able to receive the peace of God, which transcends all understanding. Not only that, but we receive the God of peace himself, who promises that by the Holy Spirit he will enable us to do these things.

Questions for Meditation

  1. Have you been on top of your thought life, or has your thought life been on top of you during this quarantine period?

  2. The phone is a powerful tool for both usefulness, but also for cheap fulfillment and distraction. In what ways can you honor God with your phone use?

  3. Modern brain science shows that you actually can change the way that your brain responds to certain things, contrary to popular belief. What are some habits that you begin to implement today that can begin to change your thought life?

  4. There are a lot of voices shouting for attention in each of our lives. Take a moment and think about who and what is speaking into your life. Which influences are healthy, and which ones are unhealthy? Which voices need to be amplified, and which ones need to be silenced?

  5. Pastor Toledo listed four different categories that our thoughts can shape: our faith, our motives, our morals, and our pursuits. How are you being formed by your thoughts in each of these categories? Which categories are being formed positively by your thought life, and which ones are being formed negatively?

  6. Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs) are inherently destructive to a thought life marked by the peace of God. What are some ANTs that you need to kill in your thought life? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal these things, and empower you to confront them.



Category: News