Philippians 4:8 - Biblical CBT.
Philippians 4:8: Biblical CBT.
Philippians 4:8 (NIV) 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.
INTRODUCTION
The human brain consists of about three pounds of extremely
soft tissue encased in a protective bony skull. Its estimated 100
billion neurons along with another 300 to 400 billion support cells are
constantly active day and night, processing sensory input, making
calculations, and generating corrective output. From sensors all over the body
and without you having to think about it, the brain checks your
blood pressure, blood chemistry, temperature, body positions, and
thousands of other things to keep you upright and healthy. This data comes
only to the conscious level when you need to do some important
corrective action, such as getting the rock out of your shoe or turning the
heat up. Otherwise, the autopilot portions of your brain leave you
free to think about other things.
We are constantly talking to ourselves, sometimes verbalizing
our thoughts even when nobody else is around. But most of the time,
the self-talk just goes on in the mind - no one else hears the
monologue. Perhaps we might plan what we are going to say to someone,
rehearsing various lines of conversation to see which one goes best. Or we
might mentally practice the piano or compliment ourselves on how we
rocked the interview or how slim we look because our self-discipline is
working. Sometimes we complain to ourselves about the weather, criticize
ourselves for the blunder at the office, or fuss about the way we look.
Both positive and negative self-talk is normal. Positive is good.
Negative is not. But both too much positive or negative makes us
unrealistic thinkers. Psychologists tell us that the mental illness of
grandiosity or narcissism sets in when more than 69 percent of the monologue
is positive. In contrast, the pathologies of anxiety, depression,
and panic become evident when less than 31 percent of the self-talk
is positive.
God asks us to discipline our mind. Given total freedom, the
mind usually spirals into negative thinking far too easily. "Fix
these words of mine in your hearts and minds" (Deut. 11:18, NIV) is a
call for mental discipline. The promise of Isaiah 26:3 is sure: "You
will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because
they trust in you" (NIV). A steadfast mind is a healthy mind.
Lord, thank You for my mind. May I ever use it to honor and
glorify Your holy name. Teach me the habit of mental discipline through
trust in You. [God of Wonders by David Steen re 2Pe. 3:1; Ecc. 2:23]
COMMENTARY PEARL
What fills your mind in your mental downtime - when your head
hits the pillow at night, when you wake up in the morning, when your
thoughts wander while you're driving? Often those mental wanderings will
reflect your highest priorities or your deepest worries. Unless things
are going perfectly smoothly in your life, your thoughts will swirl
with concerns.
What if you chose to dwell on the Presence of God within you
during those times? What if you fixed your mind on Him, His blessings,
His Kingdom agenda, and the multitude of ways you can enjoy Him at
any moment? What if you turned those mental adventures into
relational experiences with Him - not necessarily deep, heavy
conversations, though those are appropriate at times - but casual conversations
about His goodness and love? Relationships are enjoyed most when both
parties share their dreams, talk about common interests, and express
appreciation for each other's qualities. And though we talk often about
having a relationship with God, most of us rarely have these kinds of
conversations with Him. It's often a relationship that doesn't meet the
criteria for most familiar, loving relationships.
Mental wanderings like these may revolutionize our lives and,
in fact, deal with those concerns more effectively than our
worrying does. The swirling thoughts and what-ifs that often churn within
us don't accomplish very much, but a vibrant relationship with God
certainly does. His Presence in us, when cultivated, probably accomplishes
much more through indirect influence than we can accomplish directly
by planning, plotting, and worrying. Our thoughts can weigh us
down, but communion with Him gives life.
Lord, I fix my thoughts on You - on Your goodness, Your love,
Your Kingdom, Your ways. I choose today to focus not on what seems
like the highest priority but on what really is my highest priority -
You. And I trust You to deal with all the things that concern me.
[The One Year Experiencing Gods Presence Devotional by Chris
Tiegreen]
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
What do you fill your mind with? The Bible says to fill it
with what is true, with what is noble, with excellent and
praiseworthy things. Why? Because you become what you think about. Pastor
Rick Warren says that whatever gets your attention gets you. Proverbs
tells us to be careful how we think because our thoughts shape our
life (Proverbs 4:23).
If you fill your mind with true thoughts, you become more
grounded in reality. If you fill it with noble thoughts, you become
nobler. You become purer, lovelier, more admirable and excellent and
praiseworthy in your actions because you tend to act on what you think about
long enough.
The Bible is a good source of true and noble thoughts.
Meditating on its truths will make your mind and your life richer.
Because you tend to do and become what you think about,
refresh yourself by setting your mind on true, noble, and admirable
thoughts. [The Daniel Plan 365-Day Devotional]
Thoughts and attitudes are important because they determine
what you feel. Thoughts, attitudes, and feelings then determine what
you do. Some of your thoughts are on the surface of your mind, and
you're aware of them. But some of your thoughts and attitudes are
rooted deep down in your heart, and you're seldom consciously aware of
them.
I'll never change.
I've been like this my whole life. I can't do it.
I'm too busy.
When thoughts like these well up from deep inside us, they
block us from doing the things God wants us to do.
What can we do about these thoughts that have been rooted
inside us for years? We must invite the Holy Spirit to expose them so
that we're consciously aware of them. Then we can ask, "Is it true?"
That's a crucial question about any thought that is an obstacle to
change. Then the Holy Spirit will help us uproot thoughts that aren't
true. He is eager to help. Ask him.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the deep-rooted negative
thoughts that stand in the way of your transformation. [The Daniel Plan
365-Day Devotional re Eph. 4:23]
Ever feel like everything is against you? Or like you are
stuck in negative thought patterns? One pattern to watch out for is
over-generalization. This usually involves words like always, never, every time, or
everyone. These thoughts make a situation out to be worse than it really
is.
For instance, "I have always struggled with health issues; it
will never change" or "Every time I get stressed, I fall into bad
patterns." Are these thoughts accurate? Do you know it will never change?
Do you have to fall into bad patterns every time, without
exception? Of course not. Overgeneralizations make you believe you have no
control over your actions and that you are incapable of changing them.
If you tend to think in overgeneralizations, write them down
and challenge them. Then turn your heart to what you know is true:
the power of the Holy Spirit is within you.
God is merciful; he will free you from those old thought
patterns. [The Daniel Plan 365-Day Devotional re Psa. 31:9, 12]
One night when I thought everyone was sound asleep, I got up.
My wife had the same idea at the same time. We ran into each other
in a completely dark room, and we both yelled. What a surprise for
both of us!
In my recovery, there are times when I would be walking
through my day, expecting certain things to happen in a certain way and
- BAM! I was blindsided by something completely unexpected, like a
temptation or conflict. But I've learned that the only way I can manage
such times positively is by refocusing my mind on positive truths.
In recovery, I learned that if I don't want to act in
negative ways, I must not think and meditate on negative things. What I
think will, to a great extent, determine how I feel. And how I feel
will almost always determine how I respond to life's unexpected
encounters in the dark.
Today, if I find myself entering the "dark zone" because
something hasn't gone my way, or something unhealthy has crossed my path,
I can make a good choice. I can choose to refocus my mind on God's
truths and respond in a way that's pleasing to him.
Father, you are so faithful. You always help me to find my
way, even in the darkness. In Jesus' name, Amen. [Celebrate Recovery
Daily Devotional by John & Johnny Baker re Phi. 4:9]
While I was driving on the interstate, traffic came to a
standstill. I wondered what was causing the holdup. Construction? A wreck?
Something on the road? For more than twenty miles, I crept along at a
snail's pace. When I finally reached the trouble spot, I was surprised
to see that only one car was involved in the wreck, and it didn't
look very bad. The police, fire, and ambulance were all on the scene,
so it must have been worse than it looked. The bottom line, though,
was that one car had backed up traffic for miles.
When we ram into a guardrail because we've engaged in a
dangerous behavior of some kind, the lives of the people who love us are
also affected. The consequences of our actions spill out onto them.
If we don't yet care enough about ourselves to make good choices,
we should do so for their sake.
Today, I make the choice to think about things that are pure,
lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. This is a good choice,
and good choices also affect those who love us and whose lives we
touch. When we live in relationship, our choices - both good and bad -
are felt a long way down the road.
Father; being in relationship with others is both a serious
responsibility and an amazing blessing. Help me to always remember that my
personal choices affect everyone around me. In Jesus' name, Amen.
[Celebrate Recovery Daily Devotional by John & Johnny Baker]
PRAYERFUL APPLICATION
Meet Me in early morning splendor. I eagerly await you here.
In the stillness of this holy time with Me, I renew your strength
and saturate you with Peace. While others turn over for extra sleep
or anxiously tune in to the latest news, you commune with the
Creator of the universe. I have awakened in your heart strong desire to
know Me. This longing originated in Me, though it now burns brightly
in you.
When you seek My Face in response to My Love-call, both of us
are blessed. This is a deep mystery, designed more for your
enjoyment than for your understanding. I am not a dour God who discourages
pleasure. I delight in your enjoyment of everything that is true, noble,
right, pure, lovely, admirable. Think on these things, and My Light in
you will shine brighter day by day. (Isa. 40:31; 27:4; Phi. 4:8)
[Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
ILLUSTRATION
George was walking along the street in Colorado Springs,
Colorado, one day on his way to his weekly meeting of the Kiwanis Club. It
was a glorious fall day. The chill of coming winter was in the air,
a slight breeze was blowing, and the sun was reluctantly giving up
the blue sky to encroaching gray clouds.
Then George noticed an old man coming toward him from the
edge of town. He looked as if he had just wandered down from the
mountains. He was dressed in his Sunday finest, and he was carrying a big
Bible under his arm.
"Hey, Samuel, old friend, what's happening? Where are you
headed all dressed up fit to kill?"
"Oh, hey, George. I've been hearing about New Orleans, and
I'm thinking of going on down there. I hear there's a lot of
free-runnin' liquor and a lot of real good-or maybe I should say bad-shows."
George looked him over and said, "But Samuel, if you're
really thinking about going to New Orleans for all the bad things
there, why are you taking your Bible with you?"
Samuel looked up with a mischievous grin on his face and
said, "Well, if it's as good as they say it is, I might just stay over
until Sunday!"
Sunday-only Christianity. It is a malady many folks suffer
from, isn't it? We like to keep our toes in both worlds, even though
the Bible cautions us against that. We can overcome this tendency by
concentrating on "what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and
lovely, and admirable." Then we can become Sunday-through-Saturday
Christians.
O Lord, help me to concentrate on you and your Word and not
be pulled away by thinking about foolish things. I love you, Lord.
Amen. [The One Year Devotional of Joy and Laughter by Mary
Hollingsworth]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2011/20111004-1023.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES AND SEMINARS
Restoring The Power by John Bradshaw:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRogO1SxoZN15Boa7BMon4BouVMdteVaq
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: http://www.bibleresearch.info/
ABible.com: http://www.aBible.com
