Scripture Reading: 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.” Philippians 4:8
Have you ever found yourself in a place where your thoughts were just reeling around, and you can’t make them stop? Or maybe you notice the enemy has planted himself right in your mind. Maybe you’ve experienced a season of hurt, and the pain just won’t subside. Or maybe a fleeting thought gave way to a decision that might have lifelong repercussions. It may seem this season we have been in might intensify some of these situations.
I think we can all agree living in this pandemic has changed each of us in some way. Some ways we can see as beneficial and change for the better, and some we may see as “Yikes – was that really me who did, said, thought that”? Through these times, what I have learned more and more is that we must choose each day to trust God. I want to talk a moment about this verse from Philippians. This is a verse I read to my children a lot at the dinner table during their high school years, and it is one of my life verses.
I love this verse because it tells us what we are to think about. When we control what our mind thinks, we can then have better control over our actions. This verse does not suggest when we are in the mood to think about these things, or when everything is going right to think about such things, it says “think about such things”. It is a direct command. As I even take each word and think about what each one means, it gives us a deeper understanding of how God wants our minds to be filled. I just want to take a couple minutes and go a little deeper with each word.
TRUE – real, genuine, sincere, integrity of character, or accurate. It is the opposite of dishonest and unreliable.
NOBLE – possessing outstanding qualities, grand or impressive. Dignified and worth respect.
RIGHT –just, good, proper, facts or truth, appropriate, conformity to God’s standards.
PURE – not contaminated, sincere, not mixed with anything, spotless, moral or wholesome.
LOVELY – pleasing and agreeable, delightful, beauty, harmony, grace. (only place in NT mentioned)
ADMIRABLE – deserving the highest esteem, positive and constructive. (only place in NT mentioned)
EXCELLENT – superior, over and above, beyond measure, exceeding greatness.
PRAISEWORTHY – to express a favorable judgement, an expression of approval, to worship, to value.
Just to show us how easily we can get our thoughts out of alignment, I want us all to take a moment and remember what was in your thought process just this morning.
Were you thinking about what God’s word just described?
If we indeed follow this command, our mind and heart will be filled with what God desires for us, it is all for our benefit. He knows all our temptations and very well the world in which we live and how easily our thoughts can get off track and just spiral out of control. What we allow in our thoughts is up to us. God wants us to center our mind on all these things so we will become more and more like Him and be ready to receive all that God has for us in this life.
In the book, It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way, Lisa Terkeurst says, “We must set our minds and our hearts on things above by choosing to remember God’s words, repeat God’s words, and believe God’s words about us. We must let God’s Word become the words we park our minds and hearts on. We must let God’s Word become the words we believe and receive as truth. We must let God’s Word become the words of our story.”
Let’s let our minds be saturated with God and His truth today and remember:
“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.”
Heavenly Father, may we always look to you first for all things, no matter how big or small and believe and trust all that your word says. We are so thankful for the Bible and no matter our need; it has the answer. Thank you for being such a good and gracious God!! We love and adore you. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.