Think on THESE Things

Written by Marilyn Ehle

We know what we’re supposed to think about but HOW do you actually do that? We can walk you through it.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)

I walked into the spacious church library, a room filled with books by some of Christianity’s greatest authors. The volunteer librarian that day was a woman of mature years, a Christian committed to Christ and to the church. At the moment of my visit, she was munching on her lunchtime sandwich but still totally available to visitors.

But what was that voice I heard in the background? An angry voice derided what he considered to be the “wrong” people currently in office. I spied a small radio that the volunteer had turned down low. She was listening to a talk show host during her lunch hour. With millions of words surrounding her, words that could instruct, encourage, turn her more fully to the face of Christ, she was listening to the angry words of one man.

In his book, Good to Great in God’s Eyes, author Chip Ingram relates the results of research on the effects of media on how people think:

One of (the) studies attempted to determine the impact of a five-minute radio program that was filled with negative news stories… After evaluating the listeners who were daily exposed to five minutes of bad news…four discernible effects were shown: (1) they were more depressed than before; (2) they believed the world was a negative place; (3) they were less likely to help others; and (4) they began to believe that what they heard would soon happen to them.

After the Apostle Paul encourages Christians to think about “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy,” he goes on to give the outcome of such determined focus: “And the God of peace will be with you.”

Radical opinions—on any side of the spectrum—can disturb our peace. God’s plan for our thinking brings peace.

Father, I want to fill my mind and heart with Your words and Your thoughts. Teach me to be a careful consumer. May I often speak of You. Amen

Question: Whose words are you listening to?

Tags: Bible, Devotional, God, Jesus, Marilyn Ehle, Philippians 4:8, voice, Women, your thoughts, your words

2 Responses to “Think on THESE Things”

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Doris says:

June 6, 2012 at 3:13 pm

You aren’t the only one Jeanette! We all need to be regularly reminded to capture our thoughts and think on those things that are excellent and praiseworthy as this verse says!
jeanette says:

June 1, 2012 at 9:46 am

Thanks….i needed that!