Think About These Things
8/17/2022
Written By: Nancy Purtlebaugh
What are you thinking about right now, or right before you started reading this? How would you feel if you had to reveal what you were thinking about to those around you?
Awesome job if you feel good about what those thoughts are, but I’m sure many of us aren’t too proud of what was going through our minds. I don’t think we pay enough attention to our thought life. So much of what we do, how we react to situations, and even how our days go have to do with our thoughts.
In fact, I would say sometimes we allow our thoughts to control us. We always have a million different things in our minds, often taking us in a million different directions. Yet, how often do we think about what enters our mind and how that affects our thought life? Will this bring me closer to God or take me further away from Him? A simple question, but one we don’t often pause to ask.
Even seemingly good things can cause our minds to drift down a path God never intended or wanted us to go. Maybe you aren’t sure what God wants us to think about?
Paul penned these words in Philippians 4:8: “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.”
Oh friends, if we applied these words to our lives every day, in every situation, could you imagine how many problems could be avoided? If we tattooed these words in our minds, could it change the things we purposely allow to enter our minds–the sites we frequent, the tv shows and movies we watch, the music we hear, the friends we hang out with, the words that come out of our mouths, etc?
Whether you believe it or not, every one of these things affects our thought life–and can ultimately give way to behavior that isn’t pleasing to God. Or we could allow the words that Paul wrote to be what we choose to think about and could lead us closer to God. Let’s choose truthful thoughts over the lies satan tries to whisper in our ears. Let's think about things that are worthy of honor, things that are right in God’s eyes–not things the world tells us are good. Turn away from all evil thoughts and look toward things that are pure, lovely, and admirable to God.
In all things that are excellent and praiseworthy–fix your eyes, heart, ears, body, and mind there! Let’s take one step closer to God by putting our thoughts on these things, and allowing Him to be the first One in our minds each day!
“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all His glory”. – Colossians 3:1-4