Finally brothers, 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 any praise — dwell on these things.
Philippians 4:8 (HCSB)
For a few years I worked as a news reporter at a radio station in Ohio. My job was to gather, write and read the stories that were presented as "news" to the folks who listened to the radio. No one said it, but my real job was to gather, write and read the "bad news" in our community. If it was good news it usually never made it on the air!
Human beings like to think about things that are not good. But Christians are encouraged to think about things that are "true, honorable, just, pure, lovely and commendable." Of course that doesn't mean that you never think about things that are true, but are not pleasant. But I believe its those other five things that should fill my mind most of the time. Ask yourself as you go through your day, is this thing I am thinking about, "true, honorable, just, pure, lovely or commendable?" If it is not, then quickly abandon your current train of thought and go to something that is clearly one of those truly uplifting thoughts.
It is not just the evil thoughts that we should get out of our minds. Use your mind to ponder the beautiful things of God and leave room for nothing else. If you need to, then make yourself a "To Think About List." Those are the things that will uplift your heart and draw you closer to God when you think about them. Post your "To Think About List" next to your "To Do List" and refer to it often during the day!
"Lord Jesus, help me today to fill my mind with things that please You. May all my thoughts today be something that is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely or commendable. And certainly at the top of that list is praising Your Name, forever! Amen."
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