Daily Devotional for April 13, 2020
Weed Your Mind
“I hope all the seeds we planted come up,” said Diego as he looked at the area where he and his grandfather had just finished putting in rows of peas, carrots, and other vegetables.
Grandpa leaned on his hoe. “I do too. I just hope we don’t get too many plants from seeds we haven’t planted.” He grinned at Diego’s puzzled expression. “I’m talking about weeds. We usually get quite a crop of them,” Grandpa explained, “but you’ve never seen me buy seeds for weeds, have you?”
Diego laughed. “No, they seem to come up by themselves!”
Grandpa wiped his forehead with a handkerchief. “I think our minds are a little like a garden,” he said, “and our thoughts are like the plants. Bad thoughts are like weeds. You don’t have to try to put bad thoughts in your mind. They seem to just come on their own.”
Diego glanced quickly at his grandfather. Does Grandpa know what I’ve been thinking? he wondered. He sighed. “I know. I catch myself thinking about bad things sometimes,” Diego admitted. “You know? Like some of the stuff I’ve seen on TV or some of the things kids talk about at school.”
Grandpa nodded. “I understand perfectly.”
“You do?” Diego looked at Grandpa in surprise.
“Sure,” said Grandpa. “Everyone struggles with bad thoughts at times. But like weeds, they can be pulled out. I find the best way to get rid of bad thoughts is to focus on the good seeds God has planted instead. When I remember that Jesus died and rose again to free me from sin and has given me His goodness, it helps me weed out my bad thoughts and plant good thoughts instead.”
“Good thoughts like Bible verses and stuff?” asked Diego.
“Yes, I can plant good thoughts by reading and meditating on God’s Word, or thinking of ways I can help others and share His love with them, or even just remembering good things He’s done in my life. Even though I still have bad thoughts sometimes, it’s hard for weeds to take root when my mind is focused on good things like that.”
“Thanks, Grandpa,” said Diego as he dug his hoe into the earth. “I’ll remember that.” HOLLY F. CEPEDA
How about you?
Do you struggle with bad thoughts? Everyone does at times. Sometimes it can seem like they just pop into your head. But that doesn’t mean you have to let them stay there. You can weed them out and plant good thoughts instead. When you have a bad thought, think of God’s love for you or something you could do to help someone else There won’t be room for weeds when you fill your mind with good things.
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