What do you find yourself thinking about the most? Do you find yourself thinking of your family? Your finances? Your fame? Your future? Do you think about the things of this world and what they can give to you? Do you worry about these things and others as well?
Sometimes we are only concerned about the things that we can see before us. The things that we can see, touch, taste, smell. If that is the case, we need to realize that the most important things that we should think about are the things that are spiritual, not physical.
The apostle Paul was writing to the Philippian brethren, and he told them, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9 (NASB) What wonderful advice. What we think about the most is very important. It has a way of determining our future. We can choose to be negative and think on negative things, or we can be positive and think on things that are pleasing to the One who created us.
Go back and look at this list of things again. As you do, can you say I am doing all of these things? If so, that is wonderful, and you are to be complimented on doing the things Paul told the Philippians—and us—to do. But if your thoughts are not pure, if you’re not following those things that are right, etc., then there needs to be a change in your life.
Verse 9 tells us to practice these things. We may not have been there to see the apostle Paul, but when we have his words before us, we can say this is for me to do as well. And he points out that we need to “practice” these things. As we do, we will be well pleasing to our God and Father in heaven, and His peace will be given to us.
Sometimes I find myself not taking these words seriously enough. When I do, I know that I can talk to God about it, and He will give me the strength to do what His will is for me. He won’t make me do them, but He will give me all the help I need. And that is true for you as well.
Let’s each one make sure we are putting God first in our lives. Let’s make sure we are thinking more about spiritual things and less on the things of this world. As we do, we will have more peace from God and the help we need for the future.