In (Philippians 4:8) we read one of the most important verses for the Christian. In fact, this verse and its application can often make the difference between a joyful and victorious believer and a struggling and defeated Christian. And the reason this verse is so important is because it addresses our thought life. It reads as follows: “Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.”
So many battles are fought in our thought life that it’s no wonder that what we choose to think about and meditate on often will impact our emotional state and even our actions. The apostle Paul understood just how important our way of thinking is when he shared the following:
(2 Corinthians 10:5): “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
(Romans 12:2): “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
(Colossians 3:2): “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”
These verses give us an idea just how important what we think about is. In fact, as we read in (Romans 12:2) above, the way we think can be transformational. Wrong thinking can cause all kinds of havoc even in the life of a believer. Negative thinking can bring about emotional distress, improper and sinful behavior, and even cause our bodies to suffer pain, sickness and disease. On the flip side if we practice thinking thoughts that are, in the words of (Philippians 4:8), “excellent or praiseworthy,” we will experience joy and peace; even in the midst of trials.
Now before you think I am just talking about the power of positive thinking, popularized by Norman Vincent Peale, let’s take a moment to see why this is not what the Apostle Paul had in mind. The positive thinking heresy also known as “Positive Confession, “Health and Wealth,” and “Name it and Claim it” teaches that whatever you confess positively by faith, God is bound to do it. This heresy teaches that your mind can create reality and that through positive thinking you can achieve success through your thought affirmations. This faulty theology appeals to the flesh, is self-centered, and doesn’t point people to their need for Christ.
What Paul is teaching is not positive confession but the need to train your thought life to be focused on the great truths of Scripture. Thus, we need to dwell on the things that the Bible declares are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable proclaimed in (Philippians 4:8). These are characteristics that stem from God and His Word and we need, as children of God, to model them in the way we think and live.
For example, when we read whatever is “true,” that we should think about it, implies that we should spend our time thinking and meditating on Christ and the Scriptures since these are absolute truths that can transform everything about us to be more like Jesus. And the more we take on the mind of Christ the more peace and joy we will experience. Or what about thinking on what is “right.” This means that the Christian should think in harmony with God’s divine standard of holiness. We could go on, but suffice it to say that our minds and thoughts should be dwelling on our wonderful Savior and the Holy Scriptures.
Our role as Christians should be to think on these qualities with the intent to use them to shape our conduct and thought lives.
Some practical ways to do this include putting on the mind of Christ through spending time in the four Gospels, clean out sinful thoughts by avoiding the television shows, music, movies, and books that you know are polluting your mind, reading the Bible daily and hiding God’s Word in your heart as it says in (Psalm 119:11), and read the biographies and teachings of great Christians down through history.
My friends guarding our thoughts from the corrupt and ungodly society we live in must be a priority if we are to avoid the myriad of temptations that come our way. I believe that the more time we spend in the Bible the more we will fall in love with Jesus. And the more we love and reverence Christ the more we will think godly thoughts and avoid sin.
May I challenge you to read (Psalm 119). I guarantee you that if you read it with an open heart and begin to meditate on its 176 verses, you will walk away with a greater appreciation for the Scriptures, and I pray a greater desire to read the entire Bible. And when you read the Bible daily get ready to see a transformation in your thoughts and subsequently your behavior!