God has much to say about our minds. What we think about matters to Him.
Therefore, we don’t have to go very far to sin, do we?
Iniquity is just a thought away.
I’ve been, well, thinking about this a lot lately. I want to live a holy life. And the older I get, the more I realize that the foundation of a God-pleasing life is a God-pleasing mind. Easier said than done.
To that end, here’s a verse I’ve been meditating on this week:
“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.”
Philippians 4:8
This is a straightforward teaching from the Apostle Paul on how to have holy thoughts. If I think about things that fall into any of these eight categories, I’m on the right track.
Here’s another way to look at it. Who or What can I think about that will always meet the criteria spelled out in this verse? Answer: The Word.
Jesus Christ, the living Word of God, is perfectly true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.
Likewise, the Bible, the written Word of God, is perfectly true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.
If I’m filling my mind with thoughts about Jesus and His Word, I’m much less likely to entertain a sinful thought or an ungodly attitude. And I’m also much more likely to express myself with words and behaviors that align with these God-honoring thoughts.
Thank you for letting me share these thoughts with you. If anything you just read makes sense, please let me know by leaving a comment below.
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