Godly beliefs
by Annie Duarte
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Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly (1 Timothy 4:7).
Read 1 Timothy 4:1–16
You have probably heard some version of the saying, ‘Watch your thoughts; they become your words. Watch your words; they become your actions. Watch your actions; they shape your life’. Today’s verse is a reminder to really dissect the casual phrases that make their way into our speech and, therefore, reflect our attitude and heart-setting. It is often helpful to ask, ‘Does this belief align with God’s word and with the hope of the gospel?’
There was a time when my husband and I had completely shut down the possibility of moving back to my hometown. We believed stereotypes about people who lived there and the political climate and quite honestly looked down on the place, thinking it could never be for us as a family. But the Lord had other plans. One Sunday, we sat and listened to a sermon about replacing ungodly beliefs with godly ones. We looked at one another with tear-filled eyes, feeling so convicted that we needed to make the heart-wrenching choice to move from our current life, which we loved. When we believed that there was no opportunity, hope or place for us, God entered in with what he wanted to tell us about the place: his plan awaited us there, and it was full of opportunity and community. It had nothing to do with the cultural perception or what people had to say.
Our ungodly belief had made its way into our speech … and thus dictated our actions and made us reluctant to what God had planned for us. We hadn’t put those stereotypes and beliefs through the filter of the gospel. We put stock into myths and sayings, not into what God’s word said. We had to commit ourselves to godliness and submit our thoughts and attitudes to his authority.
Loving God, as the heavens are high above the earth, your ways are higher than my ways, and your thoughts are higher than my thoughts or the thoughts of this current age. Give me discipline and spiritual acuity so that I may become more godly. Amen.
Annie Duarte is a wife, mum, worship leader and preschool Bible teacher. She and her husband serve in ministry together in the United States. Annie loves seeing God’s word come alive to people of all ages.
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