January 5: Ephesians 5 19-20

Key Verse: Ephesians 5 19
speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,

Devotion:
“If only I had...”, “If only I did...”, “If only I...”, “If only I...” and before too long you are in the depths of despair. “Why did they do that”, “Why couldn't they just...”, “Why do they...”, “Why can't they...”... and before too long you are feeling hatred towards them.

It is amazing how quickly you can talk yourself into a hole, or talk yourself into more trouble than it was worth! It is amazing how quickly you can change your mood just by thinking about something which goes against your feelings. It is amazing to look at actors crying their eyes out on demand... It's all in the mind...

The more we think about bad things, the more those things are going to start to surface in our lives. The more we think in bad ways, the more those ways are going to creep into our lives. The more we imagine doing things wrong, the more likely we are to do wrong.

Our minds are extremely powerful in directing our lives. By making sure we are thinking in “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” we are making sure we keep our minds clean. We are making sure we do not allow evil thoughts and things into our lives. What would bring more joy to the Holy Spirit than to be in a body which is always thinking about spiritual matters, always singing praises to God, always letting God's Light shine through?

It is a wonderful thing to listen to a full orchestra in perfect harmony. How wonderful it must be for the Holy Spirit to listen to a body resonating in praises to God constantly. How wonderful it must be for God to listen to a church in perfect harmony, singing praises to God through mind and deed, always!

Points to Ponder:
Have you ever sung totally out of tune with everyone else?

Are you doing your best within yourself for The Holy Spirit?