JULY 10
THINK ON THESE THINGS
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things. (WEB)
Today's Bible reading urges us to focus on good things instead of bad ones. I am increasingly convinced that what we fix our gaze on is what we become. That is why it is important to set our hearts on things above and not on the things of this earth (Colossians 3:2).
If all we do is listen to what the media tells us, we will start to develop a mindset that agrees with what we hear. If we focus on negative thoughts, it’s probably no surprise that the outcome of all that doom and gloom is more negativity in our lives.
It is simply a universal principle that God has established. What we focus on is what we become. The good news about this principle is that if we concentrate on things that are just, pure, lovely, and of good report, we will reap in kind what we have sown.
My prayer today is that we all realize how simple it is to replace negative thoughts and attitudes with positive ones. You might read this and think it's easier said than done because of the constant barrage of negative messages we encounter every day. We may need to change the channel on our TV now and then or be more careful about what we read in the newspaper. That's just part of it.
However, the Bible encourages us not to conform to this world but to be transformed by renewing our mind (Romans 12:2). It also tells us that the Holy Spirit has given us the power to 'take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ' (2 Corinthians 10:5). I truly believe that if we ask God for help in this area, He will give us wisdom (James 1:5) on how to shift our focus from the negative to the positive.
If negative influences keep bombarding us, how can we find positive things to focus on? Colossians 3:2 tells us to look up... Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth. (WEB)
Hebrews 12:1-2 tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus... 1 Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (WEB)
My encouragement today is that we all cast off the things that hinder us and the sin that so easily entangles us so that we can focus our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. May our Father give us the grace today to think about good rather than bad things. May we all continually be transformed from one glory to another as we fix our gaze on our Elder Brother.
2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit. (WEB)
Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things. (WEB)
Today's Bible reading urges us to focus on good things instead of bad ones. I am increasingly convinced that what we fix our gaze on is what we become. That is why it is important to set our hearts on things above and not on the things of this earth (Colossians 3:2).
If all we do is listen to what the media tells us, we will start to develop a mindset that agrees with what we hear. If we focus on negative thoughts, it’s probably no surprise that the outcome of all that doom and gloom is more negativity in our lives.
It is simply a universal principle that God has established. What we focus on is what we become. The good news about this principle is that if we concentrate on things that are just, pure, lovely, and of good report, we will reap in kind what we have sown.
My prayer today is that we all realize how simple it is to replace negative thoughts and attitudes with positive ones. You might read this and think it's easier said than done because of the constant barrage of negative messages we encounter every day. We may need to change the channel on our TV now and then or be more careful about what we read in the newspaper. That's just part of it.
However, the Bible encourages us not to conform to this world but to be transformed by renewing our mind (Romans 12:2). It also tells us that the Holy Spirit has given us the power to 'take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ' (2 Corinthians 10:5). I truly believe that if we ask God for help in this area, He will give us wisdom (James 1:5) on how to shift our focus from the negative to the positive.
If negative influences keep bombarding us, how can we find positive things to focus on? Colossians 3:2 tells us to look up... Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth. (WEB)
Hebrews 12:1-2 tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus... 1 Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (WEB)
My encouragement today is that we all cast off the things that hinder us and the sin that so easily entangles us so that we can focus our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. May our Father give us the grace today to think about good rather than bad things. May we all continually be transformed from one glory to another as we fix our gaze on our Elder Brother.
2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit. (WEB)