Think On These Things...

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

Be mindful of the things contemplate; your thoughts are powerful shackles which not only impact your directive but provide the direction in order to accomplish it… We are reminded in today’s focus verse about the importance of guarding your thoughts… Eve was deceived by the serpent because He was able to appeal to her thoughts concerning the tree of knowledge of good and evil… Remember how Eve states that her and Adam were instructed not to eat of the tree nor even touch it; however, the serpent instills in her that she will not die and will be like God… The same ploy that led to the fall of man is a familiar vice which ensnares the craftiest of men today… You may be in a situation where you are waiting on God to move and in the moment in which the temptation is the greatest or the storm is the most fierce the enemy will whisper in your ear and tell you that God isn’t coming and that you must act… So many of us have fallen victim to this plot and scheme; the enemy has got you to worry, in the thick of the circumstance he has you becoming unsettled about the situation and as a directive from the voice you hear, you turn from the prayer which you sent up earlier in the day and take matters into your own hands… This is why Paul gives us very specific thoughts we must take captive of in this epistle; this is also why we are reminded in the church of Corinth in his second epistle to them to be mindful of what infiltrates their minds…  In that later Paul says, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” Your thoughts are very powerful, they are the ignition of every action and decision which is developed in the heart… Matthew 7: 13, 14 teaches us that we have two paths to choice from in this life, “¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Today, Paul tells us how we must train our mind if we choose to walk the narrow road which leads to salvation… Something that is narrow is thin, slim or slender; we must understand this because when we walk this road there isn’t room for missteps or slip-ups… In order to walk this narrow road and be successful we must first tune our minds to the right things so that we are not deterred or mislead… Paul writes in his letter to the Church of Rome that we should not be conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind… He later goes on to say in his letter to the Church of Ephesus that we wrestle not against the flesh, but against principalities and darkness in high places! The really battle that we face on this journey is within, we have a natural desire formed from the sin of Adam in the garden and we have the obtainable desire to live righteously through Christ and His bloodshed. This war within is being waged between good and evil! 

Daily we are faced with many obstacles that can hinder our spiritual growth or become stepping stones to develop a more intimate relationship with God… The obstacles will never cease, but what goal they represent or there ultimate purpose is defined by your thoughts and prayers! If you are a person whose life is filled with gloom, everyday you are worried sick, you complain about this and you complain about that, your relationship with God will never grow through your trials and tribulations. Paul is telling the Church of Philippi that you must make sure that your thought aligns with your goals as a child of God! Instead of looking at the glass half empty, see it as being half full… Even when things seem hard, know that they could always be worse… Realize that trials come to mold you and purify you in the eyesight of God… What Paul is saying to us today is that thoughts of honesty will keep you from stealing, doing justly will help you to avoid breaking the law, and thinking on things that are pure will keep you from allowing the filth of this world to overtake you and your soul. Things built in love will keep you from falling into lust, a good report will stop the gossip, and virtue will help you to see the character of an individual… These are the things we should set in our minds, to think of the positives of every situation, to refrain from slandering our fellow brothers and sister in Christ when they fall short or misstep… We all have a duty on this earth and a goal to fulfill; we must start with training our minds to focus on the things that God adores, then we can begin to transform our actions so that God’s beacon light can shine from within and reach out! Remember Paul’s second letter to the church of Corinth states that we walk by faith and not by sight; surely at every turn of the head there is cause for concern, every time we turn on the news there is reason for heartache and worry, but as a child of God we must learn to walk by faith… We must believe that God is still at work, we must believe that God has a plan that is being fulfilled, and we must believe that the enemy will be defeated and that we will be caught up in the clouds to meet Him… Think not of the sadness in the world, but of the opportunity that every moment presents to witness on behalf of Christ; think not to the trials and storms that rage in this world, but of the maturity that is taking place and the crown of righteousness that awaits all who persevere…

BE BLESSED!!!