The road to work has a beautiful view of the coastline and the traffic is minimal. However, this picturesque view is often overshadowed by the many potholes along the road. So much so, the beautiful winding road quickly feels more like an obstacle course.

The potholes are not so bad that they would cause immediate damage to my car, but driving over them everyday, could eventually cause some costly repairs to my car’s tires, shocks, and alignment to name a few things. So instead, of driving over them, I maneuver around.

The negative thoughts I allow in my mind are just like these potholes. I may not notice them or any immediate damage they may be causing, but the long term damage can be very costly.

For months, the Lord has been revealing to me that my mind is not His. Like the road I travel everyday, there are so many potholes (negative thoughts) that are stealing from the beautiful journey He has me on. Unlike the road I drive every morning, I have not avoided the potholes in my mind. I have driven over the same potholes for as long as I can remember and only until recently have I realized the costly price I have paid. Broken relationships, stifled dreams, unnecessary anxiety, to just name a few.

In the recent weeks, there have been crews smoothing out the road. Little by little the potholes will be filled up. As any other construction project, I am sure it will take a long time to get the even the smallest piece of road completely filled in to where the potholes won’t even be noticed. God has been showing me that my relationship with Him is what will fill the potholes in my mind.

Similarly to construction jobs, this will not be an easy or quick process. It will take time and dedication on my part to hold every thought captive and be intentional to replace those thoughts with His truths about me. My daily relationship with my Savior and His Word are just what I need to fill in these potholes and make this journey a much smoother ride.

Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things. – Philippians 4:8