Our thought life is very important. What we think helps determine who we are and who we can become. God wants us to think healthy thoughts so we are blessed. When we control our thoughts and conform our minds to God’s word, our lives will be full of peace.
We are commanded to take our thoughts captive to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). We have a responsibility to think thoughts that are according to God. Every thought that is not according to God we must take prisoner and not allow to lodge in our minds.
God has a right to tell us what to think. He can rule our thoughts because he is our creator, he loves us, he sent his Son to die for us, and he owns us. This is not mind control, because we must choose to think these good thoughts – God is not going to force us.
It is possible to control our own thoughts. Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit.
God gives us the appropriate boundaries of our thought life in Philippians 4:8.
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.”
This verse lists eight categories of healthy thoughts.
True
First, we are to think about things that are true. God’s word is the truth. Jesus is the truth. The truth will set us free.
We need to reject lies. Satan lies to us about ourselves, other people, God, and our circumstances. If we allow Satan’s lies to lodge in our minds, he will get advantage over us. He comes to kill, steal, and destroy. We need to get the victory over him in our minds. We demolish these lies with the word of God so that we are safe. The word of God is the sword of the Spirit which will cut down Satan’s lies (Hebrews 4:12).
Noble
Second, God wants us to think about things that are noble. Noble thoughts inspire awe, reverence, or veneration. There are not many things in this category except God. As we meditate on the greatness of God, we will develop a healthy fear of God. This is the beginning of wisdom. God’s faithful servants can also inspire noble thoughts, as we consider their lives. Testimonies of what God has done can inspire noble thoughts. We should think on noble things, rather than the base things of the world.
Just
We are to think thoughts that are just (righteous). God is righteous, and he determines what is righteous. Things are righteous insofar as they are according to God, and unrighteous insofar as they aren’t. We should think about things that are according to God, and reject thoughts that are not according to God. Think righteous thoughts, for this is the path to peace.
Pure
There is so much filth in the world to think about. The internet pours forth impure videos, images, and ideas. God wants us to get rid of all of these filthy things. Purity and holiness comes from God. If we fill our minds with filth and garbage, then Satan will come in to roost there. We need to clear out the filth and think pure thoughts that are according to God. When we do, we will be at peace and quiet.
Lovely
Lovely is the original Greek word prosphilos, which means tending towards warm affections. We should think thoughts that produce warm feelings within us toward God or toward other people. God is good, and we should think thoughts about him that cause us to recognize and appreciate his goodness. Other people have both good and bad qualities. Rather than focusing on the bad, we can focus on the positive. Our thoughts should engender warm affections toward others. Rather than focusing on how another person hurt us, we can focus on thoughts of sympathy or kindness that will produce love for that other person. When we do this, we will be free from bitterness, hatred, and anger.
Of Good Report
Reports come to us about other people or situations. Many of these reports are bad and negative – like the evening news. Rather than focusing on negative reports, God wants us to focus on good reports. We don’t need to gossip about others or listen to bad reports about others. We can redirect the conversation in a more positive direction. We can bring good reports. When we think about good reports rather than bad reports, our minds will be less troubled.
Virtue
Virtue is moral excellence. It is the courage to act according to God. Virtue implies strength, and it is exhibited anytime someone obeys God in spite of opposition. Jesus walked in virtue – all the way to the cross, through death, and then out of the grave. The apostles walked in virtue when they brought the kingdom of God crashing against the kingdom of darkness. The Old Testament prophets walked in virtue when then followed God in spite of great opposition. When we think about virtue and those who have lived in virtue, then our lives will begin to be characterized by virtue.
Praiseworthy
God is worthy of praise. Let us think about him. When we see how great God is, then praise will well up inside of us. There is power in praising God. It’s like a light shining in the darkness. Sometimes we find people who are praiseworthy. Maybe God has moved through them, and we can praise God for working through them. When we think about things worthy of praise, then praise will be on our lips. Speaking out praise releases spiritual power.
When we think thoughts according to God, our minds will be at peace. Peace will be like a security guard around our mind, protecting our thoughts from the devil (Philippians 4:7-9). As we control our thought life, allowing God to fill our minds, our entire lives will be transformed.
Lincoln House Churches 