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Philippians 4:8 - What Are You Feeding Your Mind?Philippians 4:8 (NLT) Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.WORD STUDY KJV; true; honest; just; pure; lovely; good report; virtue; praise NKJV; true; noble; just; pure; lovely; good report; virtue; praiseworthy NIV; true; noble; right; pure; lovely; admirable; excellent; praiseworthy ESV; true; honorable; just; pure; lovely; commendable; excellent; praiseworthy NLT; true; honorable; right; pure; lovely; admirable; excellent; praiseworthy INTRODUCTION What we put into our minds determines what comes out in our words, desires, and actions. Paul tells us to train our minds to focus on thoughts that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise. Do you have problems with impure thoughts and daydreams? Examine what you are putting into your mind through movies, the Internet, books, conversations, television, video games, and magazines. Replace harmful input with wholesome material. Above all, read God's Word and pray. Ask God to help you fill your mind with good and pure thoughts. This takes practice, but it can be done. [Life Application SB 2019] COMMENTARY PEARL Many of the amusements popular in the world today, even with those who claim to be Christians, tend to the same end as did those of the heathen. There are indeed few among them that Satan does not turn to account in destroying souls. Through the drama he has worked for ages to excite passion and glorify vice. The opera, with its fascinating display and bewildering music, the masquerade, the dance, the card table, Satan employs to break down the barriers of principle and open the door to sensual indulgence. In every gathering for pleasure where pride is fostered or appetite indulged, where one is led to forget God and lose sight of eternal interests, there Satan is binding his chains about the soul. "Keep thy heart with all diligence," is the counsel of the wise man; "for out of it are the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23. As man "thinketh in his heart, so is he." Proverbs 23:7. The heart must be renewed by divine grace, or it will be in vain to seek for purity of life. He who attempts to build up a noble, virtuous character independent of the grace of Christ is building his house upon the shifting sand. In the fierce storms of temptation it will surely be overthrown. David's prayer should be the petition of every soul: "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." Psalm 51:10. And having become partakers of the heavenly gift, we are to go on unto perfection, being "kept by the power of God through faith." 1 Peter 1:5. Yet we have a work to do to resist temptation. Those who would not fall a prey to Satan's devices must guard well the avenues of the soul; they must avoid reading, seeing, or hearing that which will suggest impure thoughts. The mind should not be left to wander at random upon every subject that the adversary of souls may suggest. "Girding up the loins of your mind," says the apostle Peter, "Be sober,... not fashioning yourselves according to your former lusts in ... ignorance: but like as He which called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living." 1 Peter 1:13-15, R.V. Says Paul, "Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8. This will require earnest prayer and unceasing watchfulness. We must be aided by the abiding influence of the Holy Spirit, which will attract the mind upward, and habituate it to dwell on pure and holy things. And we must give diligent study to the word of God. "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy word." "Thy word," says the psalmist, "have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee." Psalm 119:9, 11. PP 459-460 COMMENTARY Excellent And Praiseworthy If you've ever cultivated a garden, you know how easy it is for weeds to sprout up. The same is true for your mind. If you're not watchful, negative thoughts about your worth, your status, or your stability might begin to grow. Like weeds in a garden, negative thoughts can destroy good thoughts. But just because a negative thought pops up doesn't mean it has to stay planted in your mind. By God's grace, you can root out the lies of the Enemy. And that's not all. You can also reseed, or put in, truths about God. Paul told us in Philippians 4 that we're to use prayer and supplication to dismantle anxiety. Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable - dwell on those things. As you plant those truths in your mind, you'll experience more righteousness. Your thoughts will begin to echo the words of God - that you are loved, highly valued, and secure. Dear Jesus, help me identify the lies I need to uproot today. By Your Spirit, plant Your truth in the open soil of my heart. [Grace and Glory by Louie Giglio] ILLUSTRATION Social Media These past few years, I have developed a reading habit that isn't so great. When my alarm goes off in the morning, I reach for my phone. I find myself scrolling through the headlines, checking what is going on in the world. The problem is that I am confronted with all kinds of sadness, pain, distress, conflict, and horror - even before my feet hit the floor. This habit has been hard to break. By the time I put down my phone, I'm feeling anxious and fearful. This week, I've been trying something different. I've been starting my mornings by reading the Psalms instead of my news feed. The Psalmists turned their worries and heartaches into prayers. Checking the headlines leaves me feeling anxious and fearful about the world, but checking in with the One who made the world reassures me. Then I can turn those headlines into prayers. Jesus designed my mind to dwell on lovely, pure, admirable thoughts. Thoughts about Him, His goodness, His power, and His great love. When I focus on Him, I can put my phone down and leave the problems of this world in His capable hands. Susanna Foth Aughtmon Faith Step: As you watch the news or read it online, turn those headlines into Prayers. [Mornings With Jesus 2025 Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan] CLOSING PEARL What consumes your mind controls your life. Today, try asking God to free you from anxious thoughts and to remind you of all that is commendable and good while keeping your heart fixed on Jesus - not just during prayer time, but all day long. [The Practice of the Presence of God: 40 Day Devotional by Brother Lawrence/Alan Vermilye] LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY Philippians 4:8 - What Are You Feeding Your Mind? https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20240509-0838.html https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20240121-0736.html https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230401-0838.html Philippians 4:8 - Thinking That Leads to Joy in Jesus. http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20211126-1031.html http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210523-1035.html Philippians 4:8: Stress Management Starts in the Mind. http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220706-0921.html Ephesians 4:22-24 - Putting on the New Nature. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20240620-0855.html LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT https://abible.com/links/ |