Philippians 4:8 - What Are You Feeding Your Mind?
Philippians 4:8 (NLT) Fix your thoughts on
what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure,
and lovely, and admirable. Think about things
that are excellent and worthy of praise.
WORD STUDY
KJV; true; honest; just; pure; lovely; good
report; virtue; praise
NKJV; true; noble; just; pure; lovely; good
report; virtue; praiseworthy
NIV; true; noble; right; pure; lovely;
admirable; excellent; praiseworthy
ESV; true; honorable; just; pure; lovely;
commendable; excellent; praiseworthy
NLT; true; honorable; right; pure; lovely;
admirable; excellent; praiseworthy
COMMENTARY PEARL
The chief requisite of language is that it
be pure and kind and true - "the outward
expression of an inward grace." God says: "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."
Philippians 4:8. And if such are the thoughts, such will
be the expression. ED235
COMMENTARY
You can learn a lot about a person's
physical health by simply looking at their physical
diet. Are they eating a variety of whole foods?
Are they eating a lot of fast food? Is their
diet full of foods that help them grow strong and
have energy, or is the food they consume wearing
them down?
The same is true spiritually, mentally,
and emotionally. You can know a lot about your
spiritual, mental, and emotional health by looking at
your mental diet.
Hours of talk radio, cable news, soap
operas, social media, and binge-watching is the
equivalent of mental junk food. It's not healthy for
you. In fact, its poison. It is wearing down
your ability to live a life of purpose.
Proverbs 15:14 says, "A wise man is
hungry for truth, while the mocker feeds on trash"
(TLB).
You have a choice - and every day, you
must choose to feed your mind with the best
thoughts.
Philippians 4:8 gets specific about the
kinds of thoughts that are best for your mental,
emotional, and spiritual health: "Brothers and sisters,
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" (NIV).
Does that list of things describe what
you think about most of the time? If you're
honest, the answer is no. We would all answer
no. Our minds dont naturally go to these
things because we are human and sinful.
So you have to train your mind to think
thoughts that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely,
admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. How do you do
that? By doing it! You have to practice filling
your mind with these things by reading the Bible,
meditating on it, and memorizing it. You have to hunger
for it.
How you think determines how you live.
What you put in your mind is going to affect
every area of your life"so you need a steady
diet of truth from God's Word. [Daily Devotional
by Rick Warren:
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
Philippians 4:8 - Thinking That Leads to Joy
in Jesus.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20211126-1031.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210523-1035.html
Philippians 4:8: Stress Management Starts in
the Mind.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220706-0921.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/