Date: 12/18/2020
Author: Mike Kelley
Title: Mike's Minute
Right Thinking (Philippians 4:8)
You have heard me to refer often to the Truth For Today Commentaries. They are tremendously helpful to me in my preaching and teaching. The following paragraphs come from the Ephesians/Philippians commentary. These thoughts were written by David Roper.
Two great “discoveries” of modern psychology are that our lives are governed by our thoughts and we can control our thoughts. Every individual therefore has the power, in one sense, to control his or her own life. Long before scientists “discovered” these truths, they had been revealed in God’s Word:
Watch your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life (Proverbs 4:23).
For as he thinks within himself, so he is... (Proverbs 23:7).
... think on these things (Philippians 4:8).
Someone may protest, “But I can’t control my thoughts. From time to time, bad thoughts slip into my mind- there’s nothing I can do about it.”
As the old saying goes, “Thoughts are like birds. You can’t keep them from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building nests in your hair.”
We all occasionally have thoughts that are dark, depressing, and even devilish. The question is not “Will we have them?” The question is, “Will we dwell on them?” We may be required at times to call a halt to negative thoughts and forcibly turn our minds to something more constructive. This is not easy... but can be done.
Here is a suggestion that may help: Write Philippians 4:8 on a card and keep it nearby. When you struggle with destructive thoughts, read the card. Ask yourself, “Is there anything I can think about that is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent, or worthy of praise?” The more you do this, the easier it will be to control your thoughts.