Philippians 4:8-9 – “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, 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 anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”  NKJV

Someone said, “You are what you think.”  I can agree with that and take a step further.  I believe we are transformed by what we think and what we allow entering our hearts through our Eye Gate.  We read in 2 Corinthians 3:18, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”  If we focus on anything we gravitate toward that which we are focused on.  If we focus on the carnal we become carnal whereas if we focus on Christ and the Cross we become spiritual and more like Him.

I have people tell me from time to time, “I have difficulty with my thoughts.”  I have a solution, not me but the Bible and it is found in our text passage.  If we want to learn to “bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” we need to learn to “fill our minds” with things that will cause us to become more like Christ.  If we think negative thoughts we become negative.  If we think defeatist thoughts we become defeated.  If we think lustful thoughts we become lascivious.  If we think vengeful thoughts we become defiled.  But, if we think thoughts as those found in Philippians we become like that which we are beholding and our hearts and minds are controlled by the Spirit of God and motivated by the Word of God.

So, what should we think?  Let’s consider the list, which is not exhaustive but covers the broad spectrum of life.  Things on things that are…

• TRUE
• NOBLE or HONEST
• JUST
• PURE
• LOVELY
• OF GOOD REPORT

           This list describes characteristics and qualities of God so in filling our minds with these things we are filling our minds with God.  We should always focus on truth, justice, purity, and honesty.  We should focus on the beauty of our transformation in Christ Jesus and always be people who have and give a good report.  We have HOPE and it is a HOPE that does not come from things, man or this world, it is HOPE that can only be found in God.

We have all known people that fanaticize about many things.  Through years of ministry, I have encountered people who have become involved with another, not their spouse.  Often they would insist, “It just happened.”  I always attempted to get them to examine the weeks or months leading up to the event.  Frequently, once we stripped away the excuses, denials and faced reality we found that they had allowed themselves to “fanaticize” about that person.  There would be flirtation given and received.  It, so often, began harmlessly, so they thought, but over time that which they thought about became so appealing that they justified in their minds and opened the door.  Had they not allowed their minds to entertain the thoughts about the other person they would not have become entrapped as they did!  Had they focused on purity and filled their minds with husband/wife and family as well as the things of God they would have resisted temptation and not opened the doors they opened.  So, if we want to be LIKE CHRIST and have the MIND OF CHRIST we need to follow this biblical prescription.

            God bless you as you embark on today’s journey.