I have to confess that I dropped the ball last week with this series. Life just happened, and I didn’t get my weekly journal entry posted – because I didn’t do the devotional. Honestly, I can’t even remember what happened, it just didn’t get done. This whole Being More Disciplined thing isn’t easy sometimes. It goes against my “natural tendencies,” it seems. What’s more, I intended to write a series of articles that would show how cleaning out the clutter in our hearts will help us clear the clutter out of our homes.
Obviously, that has not happened, either.
Sigh.
Something I read this morning grabbed my attention. I had planned to read the devotional and write a journal post, but I read something before I got to the devotional and decided that I had to write about this today. If we can just get this beautiful nugget of truth and walk it out I believe it can seriously transform us from the inside out.
Previously, I wrote about thoughts and how powerful they are. They power our words and actions! The Word also reminds us to take every thought captive to obedience unto Christ. It tells us to think on what is good and perfect and righteous.
So when I read an article in Above Rubies called Dwell on Beautiful Things, it really grabbed my attention. What does it mean, to dwell? Doris McDonnell, who wrote the article, said it beautifully:
To dwell means to live. If I dwell on the ugly, dwell on overwhelmed, I create an ugly place for myself to live. In fact, I “tear down my house with my own hands.” but the wise woman builds her house (Proverbs 14:1). She builds a dwelling of beauty by dwelling beautiful things.
If I dwell on the ugly, dwell on overwhelmed, I create an ugly place for myself…and my family…to live. If I dwell on fear and anxiety, I create a space that is fearful and anxious. If I dwell on imperfection, I create an environment where criticism will flourish.
If I dwell on beauty, dwell on confidence, I create a beautiful place for myself and my family to live. If I dwell on peace and joy, I will create a space that is peaceful and joyful. And if I dwell not on imperfection, but on the sufficiency of YHWHs strength, I create an environment where encouragement will flourish.
Maybe it is hard to see the beauty in your life right now. Maybe it’s even a stretch to find just one thing that you feel is beautiful in your surroundings. I want challenge you to find One Beautiful Thing today. Just one. Dwell on that. When the negative thoughts try to crowd your mind, push them aside and let that One Beautiful Thing be your focus. I encourage you to find that One Beautiful Thing in YHWH and our Messiah, Yeshua.
A dwelling is more than just a home – it’s also a lifestyle. What you choose to dwell on will be reflected in your surroundings as well as your words and actions. You do have a choice on what you dwell. You are not a slave to your past, your parent’s ways or even society. You choose what to focus on, so focus on the beauty of YHWH and his Torah – his instructions for living. His word.
Journaling is a great way to help you dwell on beautiful thoughts. I like this What to Focus On journal (in spite of the poor grammar ;)). Or maybe you’d like one of these beautiful journals. Either way, begin to take a moment each day to write down at least one true, noble, pure, just or praiseworthy thing upon which to dwell. Begin to cultivate beauty in your home by nurturing it in your thoughts.
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