"Think about such things," the Bible says in Philippians 4:8,9. This is God talking. These are divine life hacks! Here they are, you should be thinking about …
- "Whatever is true." Don't fool yourself. See things the way that they really are, which is always how God sees them. Test your assumptions. Ask trusted friends. Take a step back and process a decision through prayer. Talk honestly with people through understanding and patience. It will improve your viewpoint.
- "Whatever is noble." Focus on the positive, on what you appreciate about someone, not on what irritates you. Thinking highly of others prompts thankfulness, which helps produce joyful contentment. You can control this, regardless of the circumstances. It's your choice, not someone else's problem.
- "Whatever is right." There is a right way, and an easy way. Don't be afraid of the right way, and that way is not always your opinion or idea. That way is the absolute authority and gracious promises of God's Word. God is always right.
- "Whatever is pure." Chase away unchaste thoughts. Don't dabble with them or let them linger. Pursue them and persecute them. Actively replace them with pure and clean thoughts. Pray hard. God made you to reflect his holiness.
- "Whatever is lovely." Enjoy beauty. Don't get caught up in too much technical or transactional precision. Feel. Sense. Camp out in attractive environments that help you relax. Take leaps of faith and discover more of God's beauty. Try smiling in church :-)
- "Whatever is admirable." What qualities give another person a good reputation? How do others speak well of them? Stop arguing with these, finding petty faults in your friend, roommate, teammate, coworker, boss, child or parent. Join their fan club. In his grace and forgiveness, God thinks highly of them, so you can, too.
Oh, and these are not just esoteric clouds of positive thinking, but God gives each of them to you to "put it into practice." Pick one and start today.
PRAYER: Help me think more about my thinking, God. It determines how I feel and behave. It develops from my life experiences, both past and present. You, Holy Spirit, have perfect wisdom and promise to share it with me if I humbly need it. That means I can't be so enamored with my own opinions. Forgive my sense of self-importance, and take it out of play so that I learn from you, think like you, and live in new ways that others appreciate. And they say to me, "I want whatever you have," and I can tell them it's all from you. Amen.
FURTHER MEDITATION: Spend 15 minutes meditating on Philippians 4:8,9. How did Jesus demonstrate each of these qualities? Allow yourself to be impressed about Jesus. Tell him that. Then thank him for practicing all these qualities in his relationship with you.
Daron Lindemann
CrossLife Church
LOVING. LIFE-CHANGING. FAMILY.
+ + +
| 
No comments:
Post a Comment