Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. (Psalms 19:14)

Read: 2 Chronicles 14:1-16:14, Romans 9:1-24, Psalm 19:1-14, Proverbs 20:1

Relate: One thing I do not like about summer is how it gives me constant reminders that I could probably lose a few pounds. I am too cheap to have the AC running constantly through my old house and so I often find myself shirtless from the moment I come home in the evening until I am ready to leave the house the following day. That would not be a problem if there did not seem to be mirrors everywhere.

So anyways, I have decided in addition to being more active that perhaps I should cut down on my sweets. That means no more apple pie. The best way to keep from eating it is to not even think about it. No matter what happens I am not going to think about apple pie. You shouldn’t either. Don’t think about apple pie. Don’t even imagine the apples being picked straight off the tree, cored, cut and peeled. Whatever you do, don’t think about them being cooked to a crisp softness in an apple cinnamon glaze. Don’t think of the smell wafting through the closed door of the oven as that apple pie is baked to perfection.

Whatever you do, keep from imagining yourself sitting at a stool next to the oven waiting for the timer to ring letting you know that the apple pie is finished. Pretend you are not thinking about the way the aroma of cooked apples has permeated every nook and cranny of the house as that apple pie now sits on top of the oven cooling. Don’t even think about what it would be like to break your fork into that first piece and, as it is still steaming, raise it to your lips. Don’t think about apple pie.

React: How did you do? What were you thinking about? If I were to really want to stop thinking about apple pie, I would have to think about something else. Or better, if I didn’t want to eat it I would grab something else to eat instead. Perhaps a nice juicy mid rare steak lightly seasoned with, well… you get the idea. (Problem is, I can’t eat too much of that either)

Too often we deal with temptation the same way I tried to stop thinking about apple pie. We know that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil but we are constantly thinking about money and finances, even if only to tell ourselves how bad it is to think about. We know we shouldn’t snap at our spouse, but we are dwelling on their faults all day long. Instead of thinking about all the reasons why we shouldn’t dwell on certain things, why not think about something better instead?

Before the psalmist asks God to help him think and speak on the right things, he gives us a great list of better things we can fill our minds and conversation with. The law of the Lord is perfect the testimony of the Lord is sure the statutes of the Lord are right etc.

Respond:

Dear God,
God, help me to hunger for You more than the things I have stuffed my life with that have made me sick, fat, and lazy. Help me to fill my mind and life with things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. Saturate me with You.
Amen