I think

"Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable."*

Taming the mind, I think, is one of the hardest things to do. I feel that my mind is a bit like my tongue. I once asked my dentist if he has a lot of trouble with people's tongues when he is trying to work on their teeth. On the occassion I asked him, he told me that the previous day a woman had come in, and he had been unable to do anything for her teeth, as her tongue wouldn't allow any tools in! She had appologised profucely and yet, her tongue kept doing it's own thing!

At the beginning of the year I read a good book about humility. The conclusion included some 'thoughtful' tips to help learn how to be more humble. Dickson's first point was,

'we are shaped by what we love.'**

He reminds his readers that Cognitive-behavioural therapy suggests that 'thoughts can be transformed by actions just as actions are shaped by our thoughts'**. So, I ask you, what thoughts are you thinking and how are they affecting your actions? and what are you doing that is affecting your thoughts? What do you love to think about?

I'd like to suggest one thing to do to start shaping ones actions in the direction which brings life to it's true, honorable, right, pure, lovely and admirable fullness.

It is more than just a good way to think, it has a bigger impact than just enabling you to be more thoughful, generous, happy, or whatever. Rather, what we think about, who we think about, what we base our thoughts on, is essential to who we are!

'For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.'***

The Psalms often talk about meditating on God, his mighty deeds and laws, his faithfulness and power. I believe that that is true and pure, admirable and right, honourable and lovely. Setting our mind, not just our emotions, on God through the Spirit leads to life and peace!

It's not easy to 'set your mind on the Spirit', and so I pray and declare to God, like the Psalmist did ages ago, that God might teach me his ways, his paths, his commandments, his statutes... I know I cannot do it alone,

'Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!'****

St Paul encourages us to, 'Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.'***** And by doing so, we will be taking steps towards life and peace. Now, unfortunately, however much we study and set out mind on the Spirit, there will be times that we fail, because we are still human. But that should not give us cause to give up, I assume that the lady who was at the dentist first apologised and then they found another way to control that tongue so that the dentist could get to work. In the same way, God is powerful to help us when we fail to set our thoughts on things that are of the Spirit.

* Philippians 4:8
**Humilitas by John Dickson, p174
***Romans 8:5-6 
****Psalm 143:10
*****Colossians 3:2