Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Phil 4:6-9

Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious,
if there is any excellence
and if there is anything worthy of praise,
think about these things.
Keep on doing what you have learned and received
and heard and seen in me.
Then the God of peace will be with you.  Phil 4:6-9

Today, St. Paul teaches us how to get what our mind, heart, and soul truly desire, peace.  God is a God of peace.  The Devil stirs up anxiety in us.  The Devil wants us to worry, get sped up, and to be distracted.  St. Paul goes on to teach us what to think about.  Our minds are one of the spiritual powers God has given us to know Him.  We cannot worship something we do not know.  Our minds are being formed every time we listen to our parents, teachers, priests, Jesus in the Scriptures and in our heats in silent prayer.  Our minds are also being formed every time we turn on the TV, internet, social media, news, books, magazines, and other electronic devices that bring us information.  Our eyes are the window to our soul.  What we allow to enter our minds and spend the most time with usually wins out over time.  This is important in forming our conscience and making good decisions.  One of the most important decisions we will ever make is to choose God.  As St. Paul suggests, “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, and it there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things”.  What a difficult task?  I fail to keep my mind on only good things at times, but with practice I have learned to change my thoughts.  The mind is a spiritual power given to us by God.  Form it well, keep it on holy and pure things, on the Truth, Jesus Christ, and you will experience the peace that God intends to give you.

Pope Francis: “Every war didn’t start on the battlefield but in our minds.”

Today’s challenge: Reflect on the different forms of media you allow your eyes and mind to be formed by.  Make one small change from a device, social media, or internet site that has information or comments that form your mind to think that God is boring, is trying to take away your fun, or holiness is impossible to a Bible, internet site that leads you to Christ, or social media that is positive and builds others up.

Be a servant, become a saint!
#Christian YOLO