Think on These Things

“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 worthy of praise—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

“The law of the Lord is perfect,
    reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
    making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
    rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
    enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the Lord is clean,
    enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
    and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
    even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
    and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.” Psalm 19:7-10

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:1-2

The mind is a momentous gift from God, one of the unique aspects of humans being made in His image. By it He reveals Himself to man, and by the whole of it we can love Him- to our ultimate good and fulfillment and His glory. What we take in to our minds dictates how we will understand God’s world, and Him as its source, sovereign, and end. We choose daily either to delight in Him and His word, or to deter His influence in preference for the false, transient, and unlovely things of earth. (Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 1; Mark 12:30)

Each choice determines mindset, motive, and motion. Taking time in thoughtful prayer to review the objects of our meditations will serve us well as we set out every day. With all the allures for our attention, on what, exactly, do we set our minds? Would we be deliberate to fix them on whatever is…

True: Does my opinion or choice line up with scripture? Am I willing to consider different sides and discern by the light of God’s word and earnest investigation? Do I embrace internet snippets or jaded opinion without knowing their source? How can I better balance what I take in?

Noble: Does this attention nourish my soul? Would others see this activity as noble?

Right: Am I spending inordinate time on wrong, unrighteous, conniving, dark thinking? Would I choose instead to be biblically enlightened, wise, grateful? (2 Thessalonians 1:3)

Pure: Am I habitually reading or listening to prurient things, engaging in caustic or crude talk, disregarding their affront to the Holy One, and my soul? Am I serious about repentance?

Lovely: Why fill my mind with what’s ugly, despicable, spiked with horror? Lofty thought does not dwell in the lowlands. When will I take time for beautiful music, sights, conversations?

Admirable: Do I waste concern on greed or salacious living, gossip that titillates impulses and imagination? Googling personalities that are anything but admirable? Whom do I admire, and how am I investing to learn from and emulate them?

Excellent: Learning from jobs well done raises standards for every effort. Do I tolerate mediocrity or am I committed to excellence?

Worthy of praise: If my chief end is to glorify God, am I behaving in a way that is worthy of praise? That points others to praise Him?

Father, fill my mind with Thee, to Your magnified praise.