Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8 NIV

In May 2020, as we acclimatize to the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, I find that there are several examples of abundance and scarcity existing in parallel. There is so much food laying waste on farms, while people graze among empty shelves in supermarkets and stores trying to replenish their homes with food, meat and toiletries; there are stockpiles of protective equipment in warehouses while doctors, nurses and their patients die from exposure to the virus; one other effect of the virus is greater accessibility to the Good News of salvation.  Many ministries have joined and are quickly navigating streaming platforms, watching their worldwide audience swell like rivers in the rain because there is a sense of connectivity that has never been explored before. Alongside this, is the incessant babble of vitriol, fear-mongering and lies that threaten to outpace the Word with insistence on all our electronic devices.

In the last few weeks, this contrast has brought to mind the dream of Pharaoh in Genesis 41 where seven skinny cows devoured seven fat and sleek cows and erased the memory of them without showing any sign of their hearty meal (v.21). One of the most noteworthy elements of this dream is that both sets of cows emerged from the fertile Nile River, yet they represented contrasting figures – seven years of abundance and seven years of famine. In reading the entire chapter, you will find that Joseph prepared by creating a plan which required the deliberate storage of grain for the inevitable threat of famine.

The mind is fertile with imaginations and thoughts – good and bad.  We are influenced by our selection from a spread laid out before us, so what we include in our diet will result in moments and days filled with joy and peace, or with debilitating fear that wipes out even the memory of the Word received in abundance.  Remember that what you feed will thrive, so nourish your mind with the Word, thoughts of love and gratitude. Throughout your day, choose your focus and let your thoughts be praiseworthy.

Today I nourish thoughts of love and gratitude

Heavenly Father, Almighty and Omniscient, I am so grateful that You supply all of our needs according to the abundance of Your riches.  Your love is unconditional and greater than I can fully comprehend.  So today I pray that my mind will be immersed in Your Word as I discover the extent of Your loving-kindness for Your children.  Please protect my mind and heart from the evil one who comes to steal, kill and destroy Your kingdom.  May we  build up storehouses for Your Word and be watchful of the thoughts that deprive us of growth.  Thank you.  

The devotional, Sufficient For Today by Sharon Haughton on Amazon.com, Kindle and Barnes and Noble’s Nook.

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