What Fills Your Mind and Hands?

Daily Reading: Luke 11

Scripture Focus: When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first. (Luke 11.24-26)

Devotional Thought: “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.”  How important it is to replace the negative with the positive!  It is not enough to simply do away with the evil in our lives; we must fill our lives with good.

Why is it so important to fill our minds and hands with good?

·       First of all, we must replace the evil spirit in us with the Spirit of Christ.  If we simply try to turn over a new leaf or leave our bad habits and actions behind, we will find that we do not have sufficient strength to resist sin.  We need the grace of Jesus working in us.  That’s why reformation doesn’t work.  Transformation requires the power and presence of God.

·       One “replacement evil” is self-righteousness or spiritual pride.  When we begin to see positive change in our lives, we may be tempted to think, “Look what I’ve done!”  Over the course of time, that attitude becomes ingrained and we forget the plight of sinners.  We forget that we, too, were once in that condition.

·       I've seen what happens when people try to overcome addictions without replacing evil patterns with healthy ones.  A drug addict who gets clean in jail but does not replace drug use with positive behaviors almost invariably returns to a worse condition.  It is so important to not only sweep the house clean, but also to occupy the house!

What fills your mind?  What occupies your hands?  Something will.  If you are not engaged in constructive efforts, you will find that destructive forces will overpower you!

Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for saving me.  Now fill me with your Spirit, keep me from spiritual pride and carelessness.  Give me work to do so that my faith remains focused on you.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 138.1-8

1 I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise;

2 I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.

3 On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.

4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord, for they have heard the words of your mouth,

5 and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord.

6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.

8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.