Luke 2:19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Once again Mary is a good example for us. We are so quick to forget what we have been told, and even what we have experienced. Throughout the Bible we are told to think about, meditate on, the Word of the Lord. Most of the time we let it go in one ear and out the other, if we actually take it in at all. What God intends is for us to think about His Word enough to put it into practice. Jesus specified that that is the the way to blessing. (John 13:17) Anything less is deceiving ourselves. (James 1:22) It is demonstrated daily that what we think about enough eventually gets acted out. That’s why our thought life is so important. There are indeed impulsive sins/crimes, but most of what makes it into the news has been thought about for some time before it is actually committed, and that’s just the stuff that violates human laws. Physical adultery, for example, is never a first-impulse thing, and Jesus pointed that out specifically. (Matthew 5:28) The answer, logically enough, is to fill our minds and hearts with good stuff, as Paul pointed out. (Philippians 4:8) The more we think about what God says to us, the more likely we will put it into practice.

I’ve got a lot of room for growth here. I’m very familiar with a high percentage of the Bible, but that doesn’t mean I’m practicing it all. I allow all sorts of things to fill my thoughts that don’t fit the criteria Paul pointed out in Philippians. As D. L. Moody said to the young man who questioned him about purity, I can’t keep such birds from flying over my head, but I can certainly keep them from building nests in my hair! I think I’m fairly well past the “nest” phase, but such thoughts leave residue, just as birds sometimes do when they fly over. To modify Paul’s expression a bit, I need regular “Word shampoos!” (Ephesians 5:26) Daily devotions like this are certainly good, but I indeed need to do more meditating on what I’ve taken in. This is what I desire for my flock, so I need to set the example.

Father, thank You again for Your grace, to me and to us all. Thank You for Scripture songs that make it easy to mull over Your Word. Help me indeed apply the truth I know, not deceiving myself and not allowing the devil to deceive me either, so that I may walk in all that You intend for me, for the blessing of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!