Daily Updates

GOD’S RECIPE FOR GOOD THOUGHTS

We must remember that everything we do, good or bad, begins with our thoughts.

Proverbs 23:7: For as He thinketh in his heart, so is he.
Psalms 51:10: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

The devil has raged a battle for the minds of men, women, boys, and girls for centuries. Today he is aided greatly by the mass media which often portrays unrealistic and unchristian views of life and distorted values. To whom will we surrender our minds? To God or satan. As an individual, as a church, and even as a nation, we progress or fall backward morally and spiritually, based on our thinking.

When God destroyed the world and all of mankind with a flood, it was because of man’s wickedness, and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Gen. 6:5-7.

Paul said in Philippians 4:8, “Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
This verse about covers it all. Let’s take each point one at a time.

Whatsoever things are true: We need truth in word, Ephesians 4:25, in action, Colossians 3:17, and in thought, Ephesians 5:9. Lying will cause your life to fall apart. Lying caused David to suffer terrible guilt, II Samuel 11:12, Psalms 32:1-4. Ananias and Sapphira lost their very lives because of lying. Revelation 21:8 says all liars shall have their place in hell. “The lips of truth shall be established forever Proverbs 12:19. John 89:32, says “the truth shall set you free”. We must be truthful in all our activities of life even though it may sometimes hurt in the short run.

Whatsoever things are honest: In this passage it means honorable. Romans 13:13, says “Let us walk honestly, as in the day”. An honorable man is respected by all--friends and rivals alike.
Whatsoever things are righteous: Titus 2:12, says “teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.

Whatsoever things are just: Do we try to do the right thing all the time? 2 Peter 2:15

Whatsoever things are pure: We must have clean thoughts. Romans 12:21, says “be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

If we can follow Philippians 4:8 daily, and live a good Christian life, setting an example for others about us, maybe we can be able to say what Paul said near the end of this life in II Timothy 4:7-8.