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👉🏼 (Reading: Philippians 4:4-9)
📜 ""Finally, Brethren, 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 (KJV)
📋 ""As Christians, the things we think about daily can either draw us closer to God or otherwise. Knowing this, Apostle Paul counselled the Philippians church: "..whatsoever things are true, … honest, .. just, … pure, … lovely, … of good report; if there be any virtue, and any praise, think on these things."
One can infer from this focus verse that to experience God's peace and freedom from anxiety, believers must fix their minds on those things that are true, honest, just, pure, etc.
The result of allowing our minds to be occupied with ungodly things of the world is that the joy, nearness and peace of God are lost and our hearts are no longer guarded. This also reveals the influence a person's thoughts and attitudes have on his/her life.
Whatever occupies a person's thinking will eventually work its way out in words or actions (Matthew 15:19). Paul follows the challenge "to think on these things" by urging the believers to put it into practice (v. 9).
The qualities listed in the focus verse will lead to healthy thought patterns that will show in a life of moral purity and spiritual fitness.
Think about what is important to God and edifies you.
🔑 Key Lesson: What Christians think about important to God.
🛐 Meditation and Prayer: Lord, enable me to think about things that please you and are helpful to me.
📚 Further Reading: Psalm 19:14.
◼️ The Bible in One Year: lsaiah 47-49.