We can control what we think. It's hard, and we often tell ourselves, "I can't help it," but we can help it. We cannot dwell on sinful thoughts and meditate on Christ at the same time. So we discipline ourselves, exercise self-control, and choose to dwell on the gospel and on Christ instead.

Paul gives us specific principles for doing this. We have the Spirit to guide our thinking. We have the truth of God Himself and our Savior, Christ. We have Scripture to help us think rightly. Take your thoughts captive to the truth of Christ, God, and Scripture.

It's especially easy in times of disappointment to fall into wrong thinking, when emotions are running high. In those moments, we meditate on the worthiness, truth, loveliness, righteousness, and holiness of Christ.

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When this is the day you expected one thing and you get something different, think on Christ. Draw your strength from Him—from His Word, from prayer, from your fellow believers. And think on Him with confidence in His providence and with thankfulness in your heart.

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Resources:

Happy are the Pure - Sermon by Pastor Bret Hastings

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Patient endurance - that is steadfastness. You can't grow steadfastness without trials. In the Bible, we see God use suffering to teach and test Job, and Job remained steadfast and grew in his faith and understanding of the greatness of God. We can too. As Christians, we MUST.

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When this is the day the trial proves painful, prolonged, and unexpected - even when it feels profoundly unfair, and even when it is merely a small, first-world problem - stand firm in Christ.

Remain steadfast. Ask God to stir in you a deep desire to take refuge in Him. Prayerfully seek to do everything for the sake of Christ.

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Resources:

The Song Before the Throne of God by Sovereign Grace Music

Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words

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Paulette's vibrancy faded - laughter gone, simple tasks exhausting, the world distant. What looked like deepening depression was a large benign brain tumor silently pressing for years. Through mystery, misdiagnosis, Rob's steadfast care, devoted family, two brain surgeries, surgical error, infection, a car accident, reconstructive procedures, and even titanium discs turned into earrings, God's good and sovereign hand guided every step.

Through it all, Paulette and Rob Hasting remained steadfast in the Lord. Paulette's personality and joy returned after surgery. Today they embrace their new normal - vision challenges, a hollow forehead, annual scans - with gratitude, praising God for trials that deepened their faith, their marriage, and their trust in His providence.

"This is the life God has ordained for us. We accept it, embrace it, and glorify Him in it."

A testimony of hope, endurance, and unwavering trust in God's sovereign plan.

You don't want to miss this episode with special guests, Rob and Paulette Hastings, who share their story in the hopes that it will encourage others to be steadfast in the Lord, through whatever trial he has ordained in their lives today.

Listen here and read the entire account at ThisistheDayRejoice.com

Fun family traditions, incorrect nativity scenes, sneaky Elf on the Shelf antics, confusion about Santa Claus, the evil King Herod, and trying to spot the Star of Bethlehem again - all this and more in this special Christmas episode with Elizabeth Giles and Monika Walker. Join us as we briefly look at these major Christmas themes, through a biblical lens.

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Resources:

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God, through Christ, covered all our offenses against Him, and there are many! Why would we think we could or should do differently? It was His glory to do so, and the same is true for us. To cover another's offense is to love them as Christ loves us.

1 Corinthians 13:7 says that love "bears all things, believes all things [assumes the best], hopes all things, endures all things." The opposite of this is repeating the offense to others or rehearsing it in our minds, stirring up our emotions. That causes division between friends! That is not how God treated our horrendous offenses against Him. As imitators of Christ, we must follow His example, not our flesh.

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When this is the day you are offended - in any way, big or small - do as Monika taught and use discretion. Haste leads to sin. Use discretion even in deciding which feelings you allow to reign.

Be patient and prayerful, even in those quick moments when your temper flares and your emotions grow hot. Remember how the Lord deferred His anger - and He has perfect and righteous anger, while we do not!

God told us that our mind is kept in perfect peace when it is fixed on Christ. Fully trusting Him, thinking on Him, with our mind, will, and emotions all fixed on our glorious Lord and Savior.

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Resources:

Wait: Waiting on God in a World that Won't Wait by Smedly Yates

An Easy Guide to Missing Heaven by Don Green

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We must never, ever grumble.

Grumbling starts with what we dislike or reject. We nurse it, replay it, let it spin in our minds - fueling argument and rebellion. That only breeds more sin.

Because of the gospel, believers have zero excuse to grumble—none.

Paul tells the Philippians: in light of the gospel, work out your salvation without grumbling or disputing. Stay faithful. Shine brightly in a crooked, dark world.

The contrast between believers and the world should be stark.

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When this is the day you see discontentment, grumbling, complaining, murmuring, and disputes in your life - via thoughts or words - examine your heart as you go before the Lord and consider what your perspective on any little issue is. Is your perspective one that trusts that God works all things together for good for those who love God and who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28), or is your heart out of order, placing your own desires as greater than the almighty, good, holy, and sovereign Creator of the universe?

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What's Good:

A quote from John Bunyan in his book Grace Abounding: "I still find to this day this abomination in my heart… I am apt to complain because I have no more, and yet am ready to misuse what I have."

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Honoring your parents doesn't stop when you turn eighteen. Obedience may end, but honor lasts a lifetime. We are called to honor both our father and our mother - and that includes your husband's parents - your mother-in-law and father-in-law. Your husband is commanded to do the same. Together, you are to work to honor your parents.

But what if they aren't believers, or if they are difficult to honor? Romans reminds us that, as much as it depends on us, we should live at peace with everyone. That includes challenging in-laws, if you have them. In our relationships with our in-laws, we must strive for peace - both when we have offended them and when they have offended us. Our responsibility is to work diligently and humbly to resolve conflicts and maintain peace.

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When this is the day you find yourself in conflict with your mother or father-in-law, remember that you cannot change them - you are accountable to the Lord for your own ways. Your ways, not theirs.

So instead of focusing on their sins - and they may be many or grievous - turn your attention to your own heart. Prayerfully examine yourself and see if there is anything you need to repent of; we almost always find something. There may be sins for which you need to ask their forgiveness, and there are almost certainly sinful thoughts and attitudes for which you should seek forgiveness from the Lord.

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Resources:

Visit our shop for super one-of-a-kind designs that promote gospel centered conversations. From unique shirts to gorgeous wall prints, collectible coffee mugs and more!

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Reformation Day can be a fun alternative OR addition to the commercial holiday, Halloween. Hand out gospel tracks and candy bars, share the gospel with the parents of trick-or-treaters, and refresh your memory about Reformation Day, giving praise to God for how he has orchestrated events to bring the faithful church to where it is today.

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When this is the day you are considering whether celebrating Halloween should be "celebrated" by your family or not, do yourself a great favor and read this article by Pastor Travis Allen, which examins on the this subject, the implications of participating, and the implications of abstaining.

Christians and Halloween

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Resources:

Visit our shop for super one-of-a-kind designs that promote gospel centered conversations. From unique shirts to gorgeous wall prints, collectible coffee mugs and more!

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We want everyone to have a free, printable bookmark, to help you spend more time rightly seeking to understand God's Word. Click here for your free instant print.