“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.” (Philippians 4:8)
Peace and Joy are Linked to a Healthy Thought Life
The book of Philippians, from which this week’s sermon was derived, is often referred to as “The Book of Joy.” Written by Paul during a brief stint in a Roman prison, this beloved letter teaches believers how to find joy and contentment in any circumstance, even the most daunting and distressing ones. Having joy and peace, Paul suggests, is largely determined by what we allow our minds to dwell on. Unfortunately, so many of us don’t experience the peace and joy that God wants us to have because we are burdened, worn out, and even tormented by toxic thoughts. In her message on Sunday, Nancy gently reminded us that our hearts and minds belong to the Lord and that we need to be diligent in watching over the thoughts that we allow to prosper there.
Food For Thought
In teaching us about our thought life, Nancy used an analogy that all of us readily understood: food. Food nourishes and feeds our bodies so that we can function both mentally and physically. In the same way, our thoughts nourish our minds. God intends for us to think on things that are “true. . . honorable. . . right. . . pure. . . lovely. . . [and] of good repute” (Philippians 4:8). Dwelling on these things will strengthen us and give us energy to function properly as believers. On the other hand, constantly ingesting and meditating on things that are not so can have harmful effects on our souls.
To continue the food/thought analogy, Nancy brought up her three-year-old grandson, Cody. Cody has severe food allergies, and his mother, Eileen, has trained him to be extremely discriminating when choosing what to eat. Even though he does not comprehend all of the science behind his body’s reaction to peanuts, soy, and other allergens, Cody does understand that some foods are “safe” for him to eat and others are not. So when he is unsure about a food’s safety level, he goes to his mother and asks her, “is this safe?” For Cody, unsafe food can result in a variety of physical ailments, ranging from an itchy, irritating rash to his throat closing up. Even in its mildest form, Nancy noted, eating unsafe food eventually makes Cody pretty miserable. Likewise, when it comes to our thought lives, entertaining thoughts that are harmful to us can result in as much misery as Cody’s ingestion of allergens.
The Origins of Thoughts
As we watch over our thoughts, it is important to understand that not every thought that we have originates from our own hearts. Thoughts come from different places. For example, sometimes, the Holy Spirit can place thoughts in our minds. This is one of the ways God communicates with us. The world around us also influences us and offers us attitudes, ideas, and thoughts. Of course, we do have some original thoughts ourselves, which probably comprise much of what goes through our head. But we also have an enemy, Satan, who offers us thoughts that usually serve to tempt us and torment us in some way. For example, in the Garden of Eden, Eve did not come up with the idea to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Satan very persuasively offered her that idea. Unfortunately, even though Satan’s idea was not her own, Eve chose to believe his words and to act on them, and we know what resulted from that. The point here is that sometimes, our thoughts do not originate within us. This leads to a question: if we cannot control which thoughts are offered to us, how can we be held responsible for our thought lives? The answer is simple -- we are not necessarily responsible for every thought that drifts through our mind, but we are responsible for whether or not we choose to entertain those thoughts and to dwell on them. I once heard someone say that we cannot control the birds that fly over our head, but we can make sure that those birds don’t build a nest in our hair. It is the same with our thought life. We may encounter many things and people in the course of a day, and several thoughts may be introduced to us that we cannot control. But we can control which thoughts we choose to hold onto and which thoughts we throw out. When sifting through those varying thoughts, attitudes, and ideas, we can apply the Philippians 4:8 litmus test: Is it true? Is it honorable? Is it right? Is it pure? Is it lovely? Is it of good repute? If not, it may be an unsafe thought which, if dwelt on, could make you pretty miserable.
It All Comes Down to This
Lest we become legalistic, Nancy was quick to point out that we should not approach our thought life as something that we can regulate on our own. “I don’t know about you,” she said, “but the more I try to capture and control my thoughts, the more ‘out of control’ they seem.” Having a fruitful thought life is not something we can do apart from our relationship with the Lord and with other believers. Only the Lord can determine what thoughts are beneficial for us to dwell on. Ultimately, as with any other spiritual endeavor, having a productive thought life requires a personal relationship with Jesus.
You Are What You Think
Continuing the food analogy, Nancy reminded us of the familiar expression, “you are what you eat.” While this classic adage most certainly did not come from the Bible, there is a Proverb that suggests we are what we think: “As he [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he” (KJV, Proverbs 23:7). If we are what we think, shouldn’t we be more selective of our thoughts? Dieticians advise us to eat healthy portions from each of the basic food groups, so as a guide to healthy thinking, Nancy shared with us a list of “seven basic thought groups.”
Nancy was quick to add that this list is not exhaustive or all inclusive; good thoughts are certainly not limited to the categories on this list. After all, Paul told us to dwell on “whatever is true, whatever is honorable. . . ,” suggesting a vast horizon of thoughts that are safe for us. This list merely offers suggestions of safe thought categories. It is a helpful guide that will hopefully point us in the right direction as we endeavor to put Philippians 4:8 into practice.
Seven Basic Thought Groups for Healthy Thinking:
Peace and Joy are Linked to a Healthy Thought Life
The book of Philippians, from which this week’s sermon was derived, is often referred to as “The Book of Joy.” Written by Paul during a brief stint in a Roman prison, this beloved letter teaches believers how to find joy and contentment in any circumstance, even the most daunting and distressing ones. Having joy and peace, Paul suggests, is largely determined by what we allow our minds to dwell on. Unfortunately, so many of us don’t experience the peace and joy that God wants us to have because we are burdened, worn out, and even tormented by toxic thoughts. In her message on Sunday, Nancy gently reminded us that our hearts and minds belong to the Lord and that we need to be diligent in watching over the thoughts that we allow to prosper there.
Food For Thought
In teaching us about our thought life, Nancy used an analogy that all of us readily understood: food. Food nourishes and feeds our bodies so that we can function both mentally and physically. In the same way, our thoughts nourish our minds. God intends for us to think on things that are “true. . . honorable. . . right. . . pure. . . lovely. . . [and] of good repute” (Philippians 4:8). Dwelling on these things will strengthen us and give us energy to function properly as believers. On the other hand, constantly ingesting and meditating on things that are not so can have harmful effects on our souls.
To continue the food/thought analogy, Nancy brought up her three-year-old grandson, Cody. Cody has severe food allergies, and his mother, Eileen, has trained him to be extremely discriminating when choosing what to eat. Even though he does not comprehend all of the science behind his body’s reaction to peanuts, soy, and other allergens, Cody does understand that some foods are “safe” for him to eat and others are not. So when he is unsure about a food’s safety level, he goes to his mother and asks her, “is this safe?” For Cody, unsafe food can result in a variety of physical ailments, ranging from an itchy, irritating rash to his throat closing up. Even in its mildest form, Nancy noted, eating unsafe food eventually makes Cody pretty miserable. Likewise, when it comes to our thought lives, entertaining thoughts that are harmful to us can result in as much misery as Cody’s ingestion of allergens.
The Origins of Thoughts
As we watch over our thoughts, it is important to understand that not every thought that we have originates from our own hearts. Thoughts come from different places. For example, sometimes, the Holy Spirit can place thoughts in our minds. This is one of the ways God communicates with us. The world around us also influences us and offers us attitudes, ideas, and thoughts. Of course, we do have some original thoughts ourselves, which probably comprise much of what goes through our head. But we also have an enemy, Satan, who offers us thoughts that usually serve to tempt us and torment us in some way. For example, in the Garden of Eden, Eve did not come up with the idea to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Satan very persuasively offered her that idea. Unfortunately, even though Satan’s idea was not her own, Eve chose to believe his words and to act on them, and we know what resulted from that. The point here is that sometimes, our thoughts do not originate within us. This leads to a question: if we cannot control which thoughts are offered to us, how can we be held responsible for our thought lives? The answer is simple -- we are not necessarily responsible for every thought that drifts through our mind, but we are responsible for whether or not we choose to entertain those thoughts and to dwell on them. I once heard someone say that we cannot control the birds that fly over our head, but we can make sure that those birds don’t build a nest in our hair. It is the same with our thought life. We may encounter many things and people in the course of a day, and several thoughts may be introduced to us that we cannot control. But we can control which thoughts we choose to hold onto and which thoughts we throw out. When sifting through those varying thoughts, attitudes, and ideas, we can apply the Philippians 4:8 litmus test: Is it true? Is it honorable? Is it right? Is it pure? Is it lovely? Is it of good repute? If not, it may be an unsafe thought which, if dwelt on, could make you pretty miserable.
It All Comes Down to This
Lest we become legalistic, Nancy was quick to point out that we should not approach our thought life as something that we can regulate on our own. “I don’t know about you,” she said, “but the more I try to capture and control my thoughts, the more ‘out of control’ they seem.” Having a fruitful thought life is not something we can do apart from our relationship with the Lord and with other believers. Only the Lord can determine what thoughts are beneficial for us to dwell on. Ultimately, as with any other spiritual endeavor, having a productive thought life requires a personal relationship with Jesus.
You Are What You Think
Continuing the food analogy, Nancy reminded us of the familiar expression, “you are what you eat.” While this classic adage most certainly did not come from the Bible, there is a Proverb that suggests we are what we think: “As he [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he” (KJV, Proverbs 23:7). If we are what we think, shouldn’t we be more selective of our thoughts? Dieticians advise us to eat healthy portions from each of the basic food groups, so as a guide to healthy thinking, Nancy shared with us a list of “seven basic thought groups.”
Nancy was quick to add that this list is not exhaustive or all inclusive; good thoughts are certainly not limited to the categories on this list. After all, Paul told us to dwell on “whatever is true, whatever is honorable. . . ,” suggesting a vast horizon of thoughts that are safe for us. This list merely offers suggestions of safe thought categories. It is a helpful guide that will hopefully point us in the right direction as we endeavor to put Philippians 4:8 into practice.
Seven Basic Thought Groups for Healthy Thinking:
1. Confession (safe) / Hiding Sin (unsafe)
Many of us spend a lot of time deceiving ourselves about our own sin. We try to cover it up and tell ourselves that it is not a problem. When we live in a “confession frame of mind,” we are aware of our shortcomings and quick to recognize them when they are pointed out. If we cultivate an attitude of confession, we will continually hold our shortcomings before the Lord and say, “God, I do not want this in my life; please help me.” Sometimes, it can even help to confess our sins to one another and receive prayer (James 5:16). Having a mindset of confession rather than of deception reminds us that we need a savior and keeps us dependent on Jesus and close to Him always. Living in this frame of mind is a safe, fruitful place for us.
2. Forgiveness (safe) / Resentment (unsafe)
Another safe “place” for our minds to dwell is forgiveness. Remembering that God has forgiven our sin is an uplifting thought that will bring us freedom and gratitude – gratitude that we have been forgiven and the freedom to generously give that same forgiveness to others. Of course, the unsafe counterpart for forgiveness is resentment. Resentment is unsafe because it ends up hurting the person holding on to it more than it hurts the person who is resented. Emil often says, “Holding onto a grudge is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” Nancy explained that when she is having trouble forgiving someone, it always helps her to remember how much God has forgiven her. “It’s hard to resent someone else when you are appropriating the forgiveness that God has given you,” she pointed out.
3. Cleansing (safe) / Worldliness (unsafe)
When God rescues us from our sin through our belief in Christ, we are made clean. But there is day-by-day sanctifying process that continues to take place as we walk with Him after that point. As we get to know the Lord through reading His Word and through the Holy Spirit, He changes us, cleansing us of our sin and making us more like Him. The opposite of this cleansing process is worldliness. The Scriptures says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing (or you could say cleansing) of your mind” (Romans 12:2). Our minds are transformed by God’s Word, which is like water that washes us clean. Meditating God’s Word and choosing to think scripturally instead of with a worldly perspective is safe for us.
4. Freedom to hear (safe) / Bondage (unsafe)
The truth is always a safe place to let our thoughts dwell. When we believe that God loves us and wants to communicate truth to us, we extend to Him the freedom to speak to us. Hearing Jesus’ truth sets us free (John 8:31-32). If we are unwilling to hear the truth, then we are essentially shutting our ears to the Lord Himself and we will not be open to hearing Him. In this condition, we will be susceptible to the lies of the enemy, which always lead to fear and bondage, freedom’s antithesis.
5. Praise (safe) / Complaining (unsafe)
Praise is simply telling God what he has done that is good. God loves to hear praise, and it an opportunity for us to recognize the part He plays in our circumstances. Recognizing Him in any situation always makes me feel loved and secure and chases away feelings of loneliness.
6. Worship (safe) / Addiction (unsafe)
Worship takes praise a little further. With worship, you are not only recognizing God; you are consumed with Him. You are showing Him your complete, undivided devotion. In worship, you serve God with a united heart, and nothing else has priority over Him. The negative counterpart to worship is addiction, which means that you are so consumed with something that it controls you. In contrast to the worship of God, which is always an edifying experience, addictions enslave people and can wreck both their bodies and minds.
7. Fellowship (safe) / Isolation (unsafe)
What are thoughts of fellowship? To have thoughts of fellowship is to maintain a mindset that you are part of the Body of Christ. Remembering that you belong to and are loved by the family of God is a healthy, beneficial thought to ponder. The opposite of this mindset is isolation. Thoughts of isolation tell you that you are sufficient on your own and don’t need anyone else. While isolation may seem appealing at times (after all, a life without relationships means a life without annoyances and conflict), isolating yourself can be a dangerous thing, making you more vulnerable to deception, loneliness, and the torment of the enemy. God doesn’t want us to have the mindset that we are all alone in the world.
Conclusion: Don’t Forget God’s Love for You
Embedded somewhere in Nancy’s message was a statement that seemed paramount. At some point, Nancy reminded us that we cannot try to apply this teaching without love. “This process [of disciplining your thoughts] must be combined with love,” she said. “It is a part of your relationship with God and the body of Christ.” We have to believe God sets boundaries for us because He loves us and wants only what is good to us. If we approach this message without understanding God’s love for us, it can just seem like a bunch of suffocating, restrictive rules designed to ruin our fun and limit us. But that is not who God is. He loves us and does not want to make us miserable. Rather, He designed our hearts and minds and knows what will make them thrive and what will make them sick. Just as Eileen watches over Cody’s diet because she loves him and knows what is best, God wants to help us watch over our thought diet. To draw a picture of the tender love that God has for us, Nancy shared a story about Cody and a cupcake:
Yesterday, I decided to make cupcakes. The cupcakes were in the oven when Eileen and Cody showed up at my house unexpectedly. Coming into the kitchen, Eileen asked, “are those cupcakes safe for Cody?” She looked at the box and determined that they were. Cody and Eileen stayed and visited for two hours while the cupcakes baked and cooled. Finally, the cupcakes were ready, and I’m over there preparing Cody’s cupcake, and I am so happy because I know this is going to make him happy. So I spread icing on the cupcake and put on the special star-shaped sprinkles; I put it on a plate, sit Cody at the table, and set the cupcake in front of him. And he’s sitting there with that cupcake, and I go back to the kitchen and am icing the rest of the cupcakes, and I looked at him, and God just spoke to me. And He said, “Nancy, the joy, the pleasure that you feel right now, knowing that you have given Cody something that is safe for him that he is just loving, that’s the joy that I take in preparing safe thoughts for you to think.”
Nancy ended her message with this encouraging reminder: “Your heavenly Father rejoices when you think about the things He wants you to think about and they bring you pleasure.”
Scriptures Referenced in Sermon
Romans 12:2
2 Corinthians 10:5
Philippians 4:6-9
Proverbs 23:7
1 John 1:9-10
James 5:16
James 4:17
Many of us spend a lot of time deceiving ourselves about our own sin. We try to cover it up and tell ourselves that it is not a problem. When we live in a “confession frame of mind,” we are aware of our shortcomings and quick to recognize them when they are pointed out. If we cultivate an attitude of confession, we will continually hold our shortcomings before the Lord and say, “God, I do not want this in my life; please help me.” Sometimes, it can even help to confess our sins to one another and receive prayer (James 5:16). Having a mindset of confession rather than of deception reminds us that we need a savior and keeps us dependent on Jesus and close to Him always. Living in this frame of mind is a safe, fruitful place for us.
2. Forgiveness (safe) / Resentment (unsafe)
Another safe “place” for our minds to dwell is forgiveness. Remembering that God has forgiven our sin is an uplifting thought that will bring us freedom and gratitude – gratitude that we have been forgiven and the freedom to generously give that same forgiveness to others. Of course, the unsafe counterpart for forgiveness is resentment. Resentment is unsafe because it ends up hurting the person holding on to it more than it hurts the person who is resented. Emil often says, “Holding onto a grudge is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” Nancy explained that when she is having trouble forgiving someone, it always helps her to remember how much God has forgiven her. “It’s hard to resent someone else when you are appropriating the forgiveness that God has given you,” she pointed out.
3. Cleansing (safe) / Worldliness (unsafe)
When God rescues us from our sin through our belief in Christ, we are made clean. But there is day-by-day sanctifying process that continues to take place as we walk with Him after that point. As we get to know the Lord through reading His Word and through the Holy Spirit, He changes us, cleansing us of our sin and making us more like Him. The opposite of this cleansing process is worldliness. The Scriptures says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing (or you could say cleansing) of your mind” (Romans 12:2). Our minds are transformed by God’s Word, which is like water that washes us clean. Meditating God’s Word and choosing to think scripturally instead of with a worldly perspective is safe for us.
4. Freedom to hear (safe) / Bondage (unsafe)
The truth is always a safe place to let our thoughts dwell. When we believe that God loves us and wants to communicate truth to us, we extend to Him the freedom to speak to us. Hearing Jesus’ truth sets us free (John 8:31-32). If we are unwilling to hear the truth, then we are essentially shutting our ears to the Lord Himself and we will not be open to hearing Him. In this condition, we will be susceptible to the lies of the enemy, which always lead to fear and bondage, freedom’s antithesis.
5. Praise (safe) / Complaining (unsafe)
Praise is simply telling God what he has done that is good. God loves to hear praise, and it an opportunity for us to recognize the part He plays in our circumstances. Recognizing Him in any situation always makes me feel loved and secure and chases away feelings of loneliness.
6. Worship (safe) / Addiction (unsafe)
Worship takes praise a little further. With worship, you are not only recognizing God; you are consumed with Him. You are showing Him your complete, undivided devotion. In worship, you serve God with a united heart, and nothing else has priority over Him. The negative counterpart to worship is addiction, which means that you are so consumed with something that it controls you. In contrast to the worship of God, which is always an edifying experience, addictions enslave people and can wreck both their bodies and minds.
7. Fellowship (safe) / Isolation (unsafe)
What are thoughts of fellowship? To have thoughts of fellowship is to maintain a mindset that you are part of the Body of Christ. Remembering that you belong to and are loved by the family of God is a healthy, beneficial thought to ponder. The opposite of this mindset is isolation. Thoughts of isolation tell you that you are sufficient on your own and don’t need anyone else. While isolation may seem appealing at times (after all, a life without relationships means a life without annoyances and conflict), isolating yourself can be a dangerous thing, making you more vulnerable to deception, loneliness, and the torment of the enemy. God doesn’t want us to have the mindset that we are all alone in the world.
Conclusion: Don’t Forget God’s Love for You
Embedded somewhere in Nancy’s message was a statement that seemed paramount. At some point, Nancy reminded us that we cannot try to apply this teaching without love. “This process [of disciplining your thoughts] must be combined with love,” she said. “It is a part of your relationship with God and the body of Christ.” We have to believe God sets boundaries for us because He loves us and wants only what is good to us. If we approach this message without understanding God’s love for us, it can just seem like a bunch of suffocating, restrictive rules designed to ruin our fun and limit us. But that is not who God is. He loves us and does not want to make us miserable. Rather, He designed our hearts and minds and knows what will make them thrive and what will make them sick. Just as Eileen watches over Cody’s diet because she loves him and knows what is best, God wants to help us watch over our thought diet. To draw a picture of the tender love that God has for us, Nancy shared a story about Cody and a cupcake:
Yesterday, I decided to make cupcakes. The cupcakes were in the oven when Eileen and Cody showed up at my house unexpectedly. Coming into the kitchen, Eileen asked, “are those cupcakes safe for Cody?” She looked at the box and determined that they were. Cody and Eileen stayed and visited for two hours while the cupcakes baked and cooled. Finally, the cupcakes were ready, and I’m over there preparing Cody’s cupcake, and I am so happy because I know this is going to make him happy. So I spread icing on the cupcake and put on the special star-shaped sprinkles; I put it on a plate, sit Cody at the table, and set the cupcake in front of him. And he’s sitting there with that cupcake, and I go back to the kitchen and am icing the rest of the cupcakes, and I looked at him, and God just spoke to me. And He said, “Nancy, the joy, the pleasure that you feel right now, knowing that you have given Cody something that is safe for him that he is just loving, that’s the joy that I take in preparing safe thoughts for you to think.”
Nancy ended her message with this encouraging reminder: “Your heavenly Father rejoices when you think about the things He wants you to think about and they bring you pleasure.”
Scriptures Referenced in Sermon
Romans 12:2
2 Corinthians 10:5
Philippians 4:6-9
Proverbs 23:7
1 John 1:9-10
James 5:16
James 4:17
Wow. What a word in season! Thank you sooooo much. Love and blessings, CJ
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