It was after midnight when I was jolted out of my sleep by a singing voice ringing out from inside the boys’ bedroom. “I need to tell you something,” sang 6-year-old Kaleb. “I don’t got a belly button.”
Why in the world was he bellowing out the Veggie Tales “Belly Button Song” that late?
All the kids had been in bed for hours, so what possessed Kaleb to give the entire sleeping Hobbs household a surprise midnight concert?
I don't know.
But it got even crazier when 8-year-old Kedar began singing the Veggie Tales theme song: “Broccoli, celery, gotta be Veggie Tales! Lima beans, collard greens, peachy keen, Veggie Tales! There's never-ever-ever-ever-ever been a show like VeggieTales!”
Suddenly, the two of them were simultaneously crooning two different melodies, very loudly, creating a dissonant sound.
The pure absurdity of it all made me a bit dubious about whether I was really hearing what I thought I was hearing. "Perhaps I'm stuck in a dream state," I sleepily surmised.
But no. I wasn’t in dreamland folks. This was a real live Veggie Tales musical extravaganza. And once I got over the initial shock of it all Daily Cup family, I cracked up over the hilarity of it.
After a few minutes passed, I collected myself, put on my I'm-a-serious-parent face, stepped through the doorway and said, “Alright you two, that’s enough. Time to go to sleep.”
Shortly thereafter, the “Wee Hours Singing Sensations” dropped off and all was quiet again.
Funny things is, neither of them have watched Veggie Tales in quite some time. And yet, those silly songs previously learned through observance of the Christian-themed videos, resurfaced in my sons' hearts and heads, and came pouring out of their mouths.
I always say, whatever infiltrates and gets through to our hearts comes out of our mouths, and manifests in our actions. Whether silly, good, bad, toxic, or otherwise, what is on the inside controls what happens on the outside.
That's why we need to fill ourselves with things that build us up; encourage; strengthen; motivate; and improve us. We should internalize and meditate on great and excellent things, which will in turn produce great and excellent results in our lives.
Strive to think great thoughts.
View your mind as premium property and don't let just any old thing take up residency there. Remember, whatever you allow to dwell inside your head will makes its way into your heart. Proverbs 4:23 NLT says, "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."
So be a fierce guardian and defender of your thoughts.
To help you do this, I'm stirring the biblical recipe for mind control into your cup of inspiration. It's found in Philippians 4:8 NIV and says, "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."
When you drink down the contents of your cup today, you'll meditate on the word of God and banish any thoughts that go against God's will, and word for your life.
Great thoughts are implanted in us by a great God who wants only the best for us. But we must clear away the clutter so we can hear Him speak.
Amen?
Now pray this scripture with me.
Dear God, right now, according to 2 Corinthians 10:5, I demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and I take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. In Jesus name, Amen.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
