By Judy Lee Jenkins
When we listen to the new’s media we are continually saturated with negative information, seldom do we hear anything uplifting. In years past, at least Paul Harvey always attempted to share something wonderful and outstanding such as a couple still together and happy after many years of marriage. He also shared what he called THE REST OF THE STORY. It would usually be about someone we knew but he didn’t let us know until the very end. His stories usually ended on a happy note and made us feel good the rest of the day. However, Paul Harvey is no longer with us and the news media is often referred to as fake news. It’s hard to find the truth that we seek through the internet or TV. So where can we go to find truth? We can go to the Bible, often referred to as THE WORD. Though written by various men of God, all of the books were divinely inspired through the Holy Spirit to these chosen prophets and apostles. The Bible says of itself in 2 Timothy 3:15-17……”ALL SCRIPTURE IS GOD-BREATHED AND IS USEFUL FOR TEACHING, REBUKING, CORRECTING AND TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, SO THAT THE MAN OF GOD MAY BE THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK.”
The word of God is beautiful both in its stories, its poetry,(psalms of David) proverbs, and teachings. It is the place to go when we need advice, the right way to live, and comfort for a broken heart. It is the place to go when we need God!! God speaks to us in many ways, such as prayer, dreams, other people, circumstances, silence, and his word. We can seek God through reading his word, and actually learn how God thinks. When we really mediate on the words he has left us through men of God through the ages, we can learn just how much he loves and cherishes us and wants us to belong to him and to be his people. He gives us guidelines to help draw us closer to him so that we will not stumble. But if we do stumble, he still loves and forgives us and has given us a Savior to erase all our mistakes. Because he loves us so much, he desires for us to love him back with all our hearts, mind and soul. He knows that living within his guide lines is what will bring us true joy.
When we get upset over the deep valleys and obstacles in our lives, we need to renew our minds with his word. We should read the Bible on a daily basis to keep this light in our lives so that we won’t stumble in the dark. As a result of my own pursuit of renewing my mind with God’s holy word, I wrote the following song:
LET US THINK UPON GOOD THINGS,
BY FILLING OUR MINDS WITH GOD’S WORD,
THROUGH HIS HOLY SPIRIT,
HIS DIVINE VOICE CAN BE HEARD.
LINE UPON LINE AS WE MEDITATE,
EVERY PRECEPT TO CONTEMPLATE,
HIS WORD IS FAITHFUL, FOREVER AND TRUE,
WILL ENLIGHTEN OUR MINDS AND RENEW.
CHORUS
THE LORD IS OUR ROCK WHO DISPELS ALL FEARS,
STRENGTHENS OUR FAITH WITH HIS PRESENCE NEAR,
IN TIMES OF SORROW COMES SWEET RELEASE,
AS WE LIVE IN GOD’S PERFECT PEACE.
VERSE 2
LET’S ALWAYS THINK UPON GOOD THINGS,
OF ALL THAT IS HONEST AND JUST,
WHATEVER IS PURE, LOVELY, FAITHFUL AND TRUE,
TRUTHS FROM GOD WE CAN TRUST.
TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART,
HE PROMISED HIS PRESENCE WOULD NEVER DEPART,
THE GRASS MAY WITHER AND THE FLOWER WILL FALL,
BUT GOD’S WORD STANDS FOREVER OVER ALL!!
CHORUS
THE LORD IS OUR ROCK WHO DISPELS ALL FEAR,
STRENGTHENS OUR FAITH WITH HIS PRESENCE NEAR,
GIVE PRAISE AND THANKS FOR HIS WONDROUS LOVE,
TO HONOR OUR KING UP ABOVE!!
VERSE 3
LETS ALWAYS THINK UPON GOOD THINGS,
BY RENEWING OUR MIND WITH GOD’S WORD,
THROUGH HIS INFINITE WISDOM,
HIS DIVINE VOICE CAN BE HEARD.
CLOSING
IF WE LISTEN, GOD’S VOICE CAN BE HEARD.