“Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.” (Phil. 2:2 ESV)

 Have unity of mind and a humble mind

 “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” (1 Peter 3:8 ESV)

Have the same mind in you that was in Christ Jesus

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Phil. 2:5-8 KJV)

Therefore, with one voice...

“That together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 15:6 ESV)

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5 NIV)

Thoughts are like birds

Someone has said, “Birds may fly over your head, but you don’t have to let them build nests in your hair.” The same can be said about your thoughts! They may fly past you, but you don’t have to give them your attention.

You can control your thoughts 

You can choose what you allow yourself to think about. You can “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” And you should!

Choose to think about excellent things

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (Phil. 4:8 NLT)

Let the Spirit control your mind

“So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.” (Rom. 8:6 NLT)

Because you are what you think about

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. (Prov. 23:7 NKJV)

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1 Peter 4:10 NASB)

God gives several of them to each of us as He will

“But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.” (2 Cor. 12:11 KJV)

Do not neglect them!

“Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you…” (2 Tim. 4:14 NASB)

He never takes them back, so be sure to put them to work!

“For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” (Rom. 11:29 ESV)

Fan them into flame with fresh enthusiasm!  

“For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you...” (2 Tim. 1:6 NASB)

 “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” (Heb. 1:3 NIV)

In the beginning was the Word which was God

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1 NIV)

The Word became Jesus, full of grace and truth

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14 NIV)

The Word will never pass away but endures forever

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” (Isa. 40:8 NIV)

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Matt. 24:35 NIV)

Blessed are those who hear the Word and obey it!

“He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” (Luke11:28 NIV)

“Having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Phil. 1:11 NASB)

Someone has said, “A person’s true character is demonstrated by how he behaves when he thinks nobody is looking”.

God is looking! 

“For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.” (Luke 8:17 NASB)

Character of the righteous

“He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart.” (Psalm 15:2 NASB)

Character of the wicked

“For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy.” (2 Tim. 3:2-4 NASB)

Put on good character

Colossians 3:12-15 – “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful." (Col. 3:12-15 ESV)

“Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.” (Jer. 1:9 ESV)

The Holy Spirit will help you remember His Word

Read the Bible and study it regularly. When you need the Words to come at appropriate moments, His Spirit will cause you to remember them.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. “ (John 14:26 ESV)

His Word on your tongue!

““The Spirit of the Lord speaks by me; his word is on my tongue.” (2 Sam. 23:2 ESV)

Words will flow like rivers of water!

“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:38 ESV)

The Word of God is living and active!

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12 ESV)

And it will make you competent for every good work!

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16 ESV)

And your words will become powerful when they are under His control!

“And my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” (1 Cor. 2:4 ESV)

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8 NIV)

When you trust in the Lord…

“You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly.” (Prov. 3:24 NLT)

On the other hand, if you trust in your riches…

“People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich seldom get a good night's sleep.” (Eccles. 5:12 NLT)

“It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.” (Psalm 237:2-3 ESV)

“Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.” (Eph. 5:19 NIV)

That song in your head

Have you ever gotten a song stuck in your head and found yourself absentmindedly singing or humming it repeatedly to yourself? I have occasionally, and If it’s something I don’t want to be thinking about, perhaps it’s some secular ditty I learned as a knight club singer years ago, I deliberately switch songs in my head to something I want to be singing about. And yes, you can actually switch songs in your head with a little effort. You can put songs of praise into your head and onto your mental playlist by “programming” them into your mind like you do a computer. Start by finding songs that lift up the Name of the Lord and listen to them repeatedly until you learn them well. Then sing them in your head over and over until they get firmly established. Soon, you will find yourself “making music in your heart to the Lord.”

Sing for Joy to the Lord!

“Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.” (Psalm 95:1 NIV)

Sing His praises!

“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.” (Heb. 2:12 NIV)

Sing about His wonderful acts!

“Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.” (Psalm 105:2 NIV)

Sing of His love and justice!

“ I will sing of your love and justice; to you, LORD, I will sing praise.” (Psalm 101:1 NIV)

"Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.” (Psalms 103:1-5 NASB)

Consider God's benefits and blessings

Someone has said, “Think how happy you would be if you suddenly lost everything you have, but then you got it all back!” Most of the time we take for granted what God has blessed us with. It is good to take some time and count your blessings. That’s what the psalm writer has done in the Bible passage above. He remembers God’s benefits to him and names them one by one; the pardoning of his iniquities, the healing of all his diseases and for redemption from the pit. He also remembers God’s loving kindness and compassion; that He satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like an eagle! He remembers his blessings and so should we! And, of course, we should thank God for them!

Having all that you need!

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Cor. 9:8 NIV)

Like a tree planted by the waters!

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jer. 17:7-8 NIV)

Loving God leads to increase and blessings!

“For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.” (Deut. 30:16 NIV)