Grou: ruling our thoughts

Friday, January 11, 2013
    Commemoration of Mary Slessor, Missionary in West Africa, 1915
Meditation:
    Finally, brothers, 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. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
    —Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Do not be troubled when you are dry, dull, unable to rouse yourself to any holy thoughts in prayer or communion—still less must you fancy that such prayers and communion are worthless. Self-love may pronounce them to be so, but God judges otherwise. He does not require us to have so absolute a control over our imagination as wholly to rule our thoughts. That is beyond our power, but it is within our power not to dwell upon distracting thoughts, to turn from them, to submit to spiritual advice. It is within our power to resist thoughts which militate against purity, faith or hope.
    ... Jean Nicolas Grou (1731-1803), The Hidden Life of the Soul, London: Rivingtons, 1870, p. 44 (see the book)
    See also Ps. 5:1-3; 88:14; Luke 18:1-8; Phil. 4:8-9; 1 Thess. 5:22
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, grant me power to resist evil thoughts. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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