Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Friday, May 3, 2019

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirableâ€"if anything is excellent or praiseworthyâ€"think about such things."¹

Liu Chi Kung placed second to Van Cliburn in the 1958 Tchaikovsky competition. A year later, he was imprisoned during the Cultural Revolution in China. During his seven-year captivity, he didn't have access to a piano of any kind.

Very soon after his release, he was back on tour. Critics were amazed at his playing, stating that it was better than ever.

"How did you do this?" one critic asked. "You had no chance to practice for seven years."

"I did practice," Liu replied, "every day I rehearsed every piece I had ever played, note by note, in my mind."

Perhaps the only area in our life where we have total control is in our mind. It's in the mind that the battles of life are won or lost. It's in the mind where we choose to follow God or go our own way. It's in the mind where we battle temptation. This is why David said, "Your Word I have hid in my heart that I might not sin against you."²

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, I surrender not only my heart to You but also my mind. Help me to deal with and resolve every issue that causes negative, self-defeating, lustful, jealous, prideful, sinful, and over-reacting thinking. And give me a love for Your Word so I will 'hide it in my heart that I might not sin against You.' Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."

1. Philippians 4:8 (NIV).
2. Psalm 119:11 (NIV).

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