Key Verses: Philippians 2:8-9 “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” The researchers at the Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, Univeity of Southern California did a study and found that our brain is practically a three-pound computer that processes 70,000 thoughts each day. That is a lot of thoughts, and our thoughts have so much power of what we do and who we become! If the majority of those 70,000 thoughts are negative we will be negative people, if the majority of our thoughts are violent, we will be violent, or sexually immoral we will be sexual immoral, etc. The truth of the matter is that our thoughts have power. As a result of that we must guard our thoughts. We cannot allow ourselves to become careless thinkers. Paul understood both the power of thoughts and the need to guard our thoughts. That’s why here in Philippians 2:8-9 he reminds us to think on good things. He actually uses the word meditate, which carries the idea of dwelling on, or thinking deeply on. He says that we are to meditate on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, have virtue, and that are praiseworthy. To sum up his idea, we should think on things that make us more like Christ! Oh, how much different would our lives be if we thought on the things of Christ! We would be filled with more joy, faith, love, and hope! To put it in the words of Max Lucado, we need to practice picky thinking! What thoughts do you need to stop thinking today! Don’t let negative sinful thinking destroy your daily walk with Christ! Think on the things of Philippians’s 2:8-9 and watch God change your life!
