What Are You Thinking About?

LaDonna Henson
Columbus Air Force Base Blaze Chapel
Columbus, Mississippi

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything
worthy of praise, think about these things. -Philippians 4:8 (NASB)

Every day, news broadcast on television and radio, social media, and podcasts, coworkers,
neighbors, friends and family members all deliver an endless and overwhelming amount of
information about current events taking place in our nation and world. Oftentimes, this
information invades our thoughts and affects us negatively. Do you think negative thoughts
about what is going on around you? If so, do you find it difficult to control these negative
thoughts?

There are many things in life over which we have no control. We could not control the
coronavirus pandemic from occurring. We could not control the mindsets of the people behind
the several mass shootings that have taken place in our country over the past few weeks. We
cannot control the diseases of the heart and the flesh that are responsible for the evil present in
this world. But there is one area of life in which we do have some control. We can get some
control over what we think about.

The Apostle Paul encouraged the Philippians to fill their minds with good thoughts. He listed the
things the Philippians should think about. They should choose these things as the subject of their
meditation, and have them ever in their thoughts.

Christians today should also occupy our minds with good thoughts, rather than impure or
worrisome and anxious thoughts. We are to meditate on the same things the Philippians were
urged to meditate on. We are to seriously consider these things, turn them around in our minds,
and reason with ourselves about them - in order to put them into practice.

Let’s be honest, from time to time, we allow negative thoughts to overtake our minds, even
though we know we should try to avoid these thoughts and keep our minds focused on truth -
the Word of God.

Philippians 4:8 implies that we have the power of supervising our thoughts, and that we should
put into practice redirecting our thoughts from the negative to the positive. This suggested
manner of thinking is the result of daily meditation on the Word of God. What is written in the
Scriptures is powerful, and so much better to give thought to than the negative stuff we often
think about.

Our thoughts are powerful, and as we endure these current trials, let us ask God to help us to
think about the things that positively guide our thoughts and direct our actions. The Holy Spirit
lives in every Christian and gives us power for thinking about good things, even during these
perilous times.

Scripture Readings
Monday- Philippians 4
Tuesday- 1 Corinthians 2
Wednesday- 2 Corinthians 10
Thursday- Romans 8:1-11
Friday- Proverbs 23
Saturday- Proverbs 14