Thoughtful Redecorating

Bible Reading: Isaiah 26:3-4; Philippians 4:6-9

Mom looked around Alicia’s room in admiration. “I still can’t get over how lovely your room looks since we tore down that ugly green wallpaper and repainted the walls.”

“I know!” said Alicia. “It sure was a lot of hard work, but now I love how my new room looks with the lilac paint and white picture frames.”

Mom smiled. “Are you ready to go school supply shopping now?”

Alicia’s forehead wrinkled. “I guess,” she mumbled.

“What’s wrong, sweetie? You’re usually excited to help me shop for your school

supplies.”

“It’s not that.” Alicia heaved a big sigh. “I’m just so nervous about starting a new school. What if I don’t like it, or I don’t make any friends? What if I do something clumsy on the first day and everyone laughs at me?”

“Hmm,” mused Mom as she gently tapped Alicia’s forehead with her finger. “It sounds to me like you need to do some redecorating in here.”

Alicia looked confused. “Huh? What are you talking about, Mom?”

Mom sat down beside her. “Well, are your what-if thoughts true things that have actually happened?”

“No,” Alicia grudgingly admitted. “I guess not.”

“When you were younger and had bad dreams, you would come to me afraid, even though your dreams weren’t real. We prayed that Jesus would help you think about true and good things, as it says in Philippians, so that you would stop thinking about your nightmare and go back to sleep.”

Alicia thought for a minute. “So, I need to redecorate the walls of my mind by tearing down my fearful what-if thoughts and putting up true, good thoughts?”

“Exactly,” Mom said. “How do you think you can do that?”

Alicia paused. “Well, I know that when I trusted Jesus to be my Savior, He promised to never leave me, no matter what happens—or how clumsy I am.”

Mom smiled. “Yes, and He also promises to help you live according to the truth of His Word, the Bible. Tearing down that old wall paper wasn’t easy, and neither is changing our thinking. I often struggle with that too,” she admitted. “But just like I helped you redo your room, the Holy Spirit will help you redecorate your mind with the truth of Jesus.” • Elise Johnson

How About You?

Do you often find yourself thinking about what-ifs? Do you worry that you won’t make the soccer team or that no one at your new school will want to be your friend? Instead of worrying about what-ifs, God tells us to think about what is true and good, like the promises in His Word. If you know Jesus, He has saved you from sin and promises to always be with you. Fix your thoughts on His truth.

Today’s Key Verse:
Philippians 4:8 Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. (NLT)

Today’s Key Thought:

Think about what is true and good