Finally, brethren, 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)
Many people make themselves miserable by their thoughts. Oftimes a change in the way we think about an event can change the way we feel along with the way we handle things. For example, the cross of Christ was a horrible reality but at the very bottom of that reality was God’s love for us. Rethinking the reasons His love, causes us to think differently. We are approaching Easter season and thinking about the historic events that brought it into being as one big act of love for us alters the way we feel about it.
Thoughts that produce good results applies to all of life. The person who takes an exam and fails is given a failing score. The failing score is good information because it informs us of how close we are to passing and how much work we need to do to get there. We can take that information and move forward gladly. For this and many other reasons Philippians 4.8 is grand advice. In it Paul uses the word, “Finally”, which means, “At the bottom of all that I have said.” So at the bottom of all that he said, let s find the lovely, like the flower in the picture, even when it shows up in the bad and think about things that are pure, just and lovely.
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