LANGUAGE:
2024
Striving to Live The Mind Of Christ
In A Twisted World
(Philippians 4:1, 4-8)
Welcome to the first Sunday of 2024.
I mention this in light of Moses’ prayer in Psalm 90:12 (NASB95) teach us to number our days, that we may present to ‘our God’ a heart of wisdom. Life is uncertain, time flies, and God judges sin. Therefore, it is important for us to value the days He has given us.[i]
I came across an article by Trevor Hughes that caught my attention. He writes: Brekke Wagoner looks out the windows of her North Carolina home and sees disaster coming. Not immediately, but someday, as hurricanes and other storms gather on the Eastern Seaboard, drenching neighborhoods, knocking out power and destroying roads. In that moment she thinks about prepping. In a recent USA TODAY/Suffolk University Poll it was found that 67% of Americans are worried about their future. In fact, in the past 12 months, 39% of millennials, those born between 1981-1996 (27-42 years old) and 40% of Gen Zers, those born between 1997-2012 (11-26 years old) ‘are spending’ their money on prepping. Believe it, there is a growing group of people known as Preppers, people who are caught up with the uncertainty of our times.[ii]
Before we open God’s Word, let’s ask Him to guide our understanding of His instruction to us. Heavenly Father, thank You for being an overcoming God! I know I can take heart because You have overcome the world. Empower me to rise above my circumstances. Help me cast my anxiety on You because You care for me. Give me Your power to overcome. Thank You for giving me the victory! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
I invite you to open your Bibles to Philippians chap 4. I’ve entitle our study Striving to Live the Mind of Christ in a Twisted World. From Proverbs 23:7(NASB95) come these irritating words: as one thinks within himself, so he is. Think about this: our thoughts define us, they shape the life we live, inspire the dreams we dream, and create the realities we accomplish. As someone has said: “You become what you think about all day long, and those days eventually become your lifetime.”[iii]
That’s why we are told in Colossians chap 3, vs1-2, 1If you have been raised up with Christ, seek the things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. … ‘So’ 2Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.[iv] To set our minds on the things above is a tough go. Discouragement abounds. Joblessness, homelessness, illness, hunger, marital strife, economic hardship, wars and financial pressures and persecution of believers publicly and privately can set one’s mind in a tail spin of despair.
Our minds are assaulted not only from outside the church but also from inside. There’s gossip, slander, envy, disunity, laziness, grumbling, and the ongoing temptations and failings of believers. The throes of sin infect all people everywhere.
From Paul’s letter to the Philippians we learn that he was very troubled as to their ability to handle the assaults on their faith.
The people at Philippi were being hammered with discouragement and hopeless head bangers.[viii]
Today, like the people of Philippi, we are being hammered with discouragement and hopeless head bangers. You should be at Paul’s letter to the Philippians by now. In vs4-8 Paul gives us God’s prescription for dealing with worry and anxiety.
To help us get a grip on the prescription for worry and anxiety, it is helpful to understand the overall context. Paul begins chap 4 with these words: Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.[ix] Then in v2 he addresses a deep seated conflict between two prominent women Euodia and Syntyche.
I like the King James’ rendering of v2. It reads, I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.
To be of the same mind in the Lord takes us back to chap 2 where Paul writes, live in harmony and keep one purpose in mind. Don’t act out of selfish ambition . . . don’t be concerned only about your own interests . . . have the mindset . . . that Jesus had . . . who . . . didn’t consider equality with God something to be grasped but took upon Himself the form of a servant. So when Paul says to the ladies be of the same mind in the Lord, … he was calling them to lay down their grievances so that they can have the mind of Christ. Euodia and Syntchye’s conflict was causing them to falter when it came to standing firm in the Lord, v4.
Paul’s admonition to Euodia and Syntchye becomes the transition to his prescription for victory over worry and for experiencing the enjoyment of peace with God. …
Since our actions testify to our thoughts, it is important that we take hold of our thought life. The only way to have victory over our thought life is to immerse our minds into the mind of Christ. If we fail to do this, the thinking and philosophies of this world will take us captive." We cannot just simply talk about having the mind of Christ; we must choose to think like Jesus which leads to acting like Jesus.
In Vs4-8 we are given five character traits of the mind of Christ, that when operative, give us victory over anxiety. Choosing to align our minds with Christ move us to experiencing peace of God in the midst of a corrupt and twisted world.[x]
That is spelled out for us in V4 (ESV) Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.[xi] Notice the emphasis of rejoice. In chap 3, v1 he told them, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.[xii]
I think the double admonition to rejoice comes because complaining/grumbling was a big issue.[xiii] If the truth be known, I think complaining/grumbling is probably low on our list of sins because we’re all so prone to doing it. It sort of come’s naturally for us.
Back in chap 2, v14 Paul hits grumbling straight up when he says Don’t be a grumbler . . . now don’t miss this . . . so that you can prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God ‘who are’ above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights to the world, holding fast the word of life . . . [xiv]
What v4 is telling us, is that the cure for despondency, the cure for a crushed spirit, the cure for complaining or a bitter spirit comes when we get a grip on our position as kingdom citizens. Why? Because according to Romans 14:17 (NASB95) the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Indeed, Nehemiah 8:10, The joy of the Lord is your strength. Rejoicing is our strength because of our inner confidence of our relationship with God.[xv]
Notice Paul said that we should rejoice in the Lord always. And so James 1:2, Count it all joy, brothers, when you find yourselves facing difficulties of all kinds. The joy we display in tough times does not come from the circumstances we are facing, but from the relationship we have with God though Jesus that we are enjoying.[xvi] We will never be a strong Christian unless we rejoice in the Lord, for it is the joy of the Lord that is your stronghold.
V5, Let your gentle spirit be known to all. The GK word gentle is hard to translate into English, but perhaps a close rendering would be our word selflessness.[xvii]
There’s a desire by all of us to be known for something--one’s ability to sing, to be athletic, to be charming, to be model material, or to be macho; but to be known as selfless not so much. That’s a stretch for anyone. But that’s exactly what we’re being told, which takes us back to chap 2, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who did not think equality with God was something to be exploited.”
A.W. Tozer in The Pursuit of God highlights a number of self-sins: there’s self-righteousness, self-pity, self-confidence, self-sufficiency, self-admiration, self-love, and a host of others like them.[xviii] Against these comes "be selflessness". If we want the mind of Christ we must chose selflessness. And why are we to be selfless? Because, Paul says, the Lord is near. I take that phrase to be in line with James chap 5, vs 8-9(GW) 8You, too, must be patient. Don’t give up hope. The Lord will soon be here.[xix] 9Brothers and sisters, stop complaining about each other, or you will be condemned. Realize that the judge is standing at the door.
V6, Do not be anxious about anything. In today’s world, that is almost laughable. Negative Information travels at supersonic speed. Anything that’s anything is blown up into an instant crisis. Major news outlets, Facebook, Twitter/X all are calling us to fret, worry and be anxious. In addition, right now there are at least 10 major war hotspots in action. In addition we have a hot election on the horizon, we’ve lost control of our borders, and consumer debt is now pushing 10.4 trillion. What’s there not to be anxious about?
Paul’s prescription is Do not be anxious about anything. Why? Because of such verses as Isaiah 41:10, do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Psalm 46:1 NIV God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. [xx]
Paul’s prescription to our anxiety is . . . Do not be anxious about anything . . . Isn’t that what Jesus said in Matthew 6? Don’t be worried about tomorrow . . . each day has enough trouble of its own
V6, Let your request be made known to God. From ‘God’s Life Play Book’, we're told to go on the offensive. In the midst of the battering’s, instead of letting stress and anxiety bury you in despair, eat your gut raw, take it all to God. When we experience anxiety, our reflex should be prayer.
Notice Paul’s tag in v7. It begins with the conjunction ‘and’. Putting these two verses together--Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Let your requests be made known to God, ‘then’ the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
God doesn’t experience anxiety. There is nothing out of His control. He is in perfect peace, calmness, and control. The most peaceful person in existence is God.[xxi] In other words, the way to not be anxious is to be praying about everything. That’s what Jesus did. In the gospels it is believe that Jesus is recorded praying between 27-38 times.[xxii]
If you want to get peace from anybody, the best person to get it from is God. Isaiah 26:3 (NLT) God will keep in perfect peace all who trust in Him, all whose thoughts are fixed on Him! Isaiah tells us that no matter how chaotic and stressful our lives may be, we can be calm and peaceful. It is not that we have that peace in ourselves but that God has that peace in Himself and Paul tells us that He gives it to us through prayer. God doesn’t promise to always answer our prayers the way we want them answered, but he does promise to take away our anxiety and replace it with peace when we pray. God promises to give us supernatural peace.
1 Peter 5:7 (NASB95) Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. God cares. … Isaiah 41:13 (NASB95) “I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’ God isn’t so busy running the universe that he doesn’t have time for our petty worries.[xxiii]
V8, 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is decent, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is worthy, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Remember what Proverbs 23:7 says: as one thinks within himself, so he is. It’s not our words that define us, and it’s not our acts that define us. Jesus tells us in Matthew 15:19 that our words and actions flow from our thoughts. So Romans 12:2 (NASB95) gives us this counsel: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Paul reminds us to be very careful what we let our minds think about, especially in tough times. What we allow our minds to chew on, will become what we act on. What we dwell on become the way we act. If we let our thoughts be filled with negative things, depressing things, garbage things, then our minds work against us. Soon we start acting out sinful things, negative things, and unhelpful things in our lives. That’s in part why Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:3, I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. The way Satan attacked Eve in the Garden of Eden was with her thought life.[xxiv]
Let’s take a moment to reflect on what we have just considered. Real change starts with our thought life. What we control, and where we really start to create our reality, is in how we perceive/interpret/think about the events in our life that generate our feelings about those events, and how we subsequently respond with our behavior. No one can choose your thoughts or actions; those are yours alone.[xxv]
We’re not being told to just memorize Bible verses and everything will be okay.
How’s your thought life? Wrong thoughts seem to come into our minds like phone calls. So, the first thing we need to ask ourselves is, Who’s calling? Our thoughts only come from three places: ourselves, God or Satan and his demonic yinyins. A quick consideration will likely give you the answer as to who is calling. If it isn’t God—you need to hang up!
That’s what Paul has in mind when he writes in 2 Corinthians 10:5. “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” He’s not just talking about turning off your computer and or being choosy about the movies you watch or the books you read. He’s talking about the very frame of reference for all your life. You take it all captive to Christ. That’s a gospel perspective.
And so we end with this cap stone of the mind of Christ:
That’s what this passage says, and we’re responsible for this.[xxvi]
By changing the way we think, we’ll start to see changes in our attitude and behavior, which will open the way for a more fulfilling life overall. If you believe in goodness and if you value the approval of God, I want to encourage you this morning to make a commitment to making these five choices a top priority for 2024.
Let’s wrap up our study by asking our God to internalize what we have just considered.
Father, thank you for your Word—practical, relevant, challenging. Thank you that you give it to us with such clarity because You love us so wonderfully—that You long for your children to be marked by maturity and by grace. Fill our minds, then, with the truth of your Word, not so that we will become boring volumes of theological accuracy, but so that we might become lively sermons—joyful, truthful, noble, admirable, God-honoring lives. Receive our praise and our worship and our morning offerings as we bring them to you in Jesus’ name and for his sake. Amen.
[i] Psalm 39:4–6 (NASB95) 4“LORD, make me to know my end And what is the extent of my days; Let me know how transient I am. 5“Behold, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my lifetime as nothing in Your sight; Surely every man at his best is a mere breath. Selah. 6“Surely every man walks about as a phantom; Surely they make an uproar for nothing; He amasses riches and does not know who will gather them. Psalm 27:1 (NASB95) 1The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? Deuteronomy 32:29 (NASB95) “Would that they were wise, that they understood this, That they would discern their future!
[ii] Trevor Hughes, Could 2024 election cause society to collapse? Some preppers thing so—and they’re ready. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/12/04/doomsday-preppers-and-election-2024-fears/71695426007/
[iii] As You Think, So Shall You Become, https://threeminuteleadership.com/2017/07/16/as-you-think-so-shall-you-become/. Proverbs 2:1–6 (NASB95) 1My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you, 2Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; 3For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; 4If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5Then you will discern the fear of the LORD And discover the knowledge of God. 6For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
[iv] Romans 8:5–8 (NASB95) 5For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 12:1–3 (NASB95) 1Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. 3For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. Matthew 15:18–20 (NASB95) 18“But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. 19“For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. 20“These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.”
[v]Philippians 1:15–17 (ESV) 15Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.
[vi] Philippians 3:18–19 (ESV) 18For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. Paul was concerned that false teachers who advocated for circumcision — "those who mutilate the flesh,". He also condemned other kinds of false teaching in Philippians 3:18-19: Many … walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
[vii]Philippians 4:2–3 (ESV) 2I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
[viii]Dr. Reggie Kidd, Paul and the Philippians (Lesson 5), https://thirdmill.org/seminary/lesson.asp/vs/PPE/ln/5. Years earlier, just after he had planted the church in Philippi, Paul had encountered great resistance from Jews in the neighboring Macedonian city of Thessalonica. And as we read in Acts 17:5-13, these angry Jews accused Paul and the other believers of violating Roman law. As a result, Paul was forced to flee the city by night to avoid further persecution by Jews, as well as arrest by the civil government. These Thessalonian Jews were so zealous that they pursued Paul even to the city of Berea. So, it's likely that these same Jews, or others like them, also troubled the church in Philippi and roused the local government against the church there as well. But whatever the specific nature of the persecution in Philippi, it's clear that the church was suffering at the hands of unbelievers.
[ix]Cf., 2 Thessalonians 2:15 (ESV) 15So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. 1 Corinthians 16:13 (ESV) 13Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
[x] Cf., Don Carson, Living Out the Gospel (Philippians 4:4-23), https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/sermon/living-out-the-gospel/
[xi] Philippians 1:14 (NASB95) 14and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear., Philippians 2:19 (NASB95)19But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. Philippians 2:24 (NASB95) and I trust in the Lord that I myself also will be coming shortly. Philippians 3:1 (NASB95)1Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you. Philippians 4:1 (NASB95) 1Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved. Philippians 4:4 (NASB95) Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!
[xii] Proverbs 17:22 (NASB95) 22A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.
[xiii] Philippians 2:14 (NASB95) 14Do all things without grumbling or disputing;
[xiv] Cf., Jude 16 (NASB95) 16These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage. 1 Corinthians 10:10 (NASB95) 10Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 2 Peter 2:18 (NASB95) 18For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error,
[xv] Meg Bucher, What Does “the joy of the Lord is my strength” mean in the Bible? https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/what-does-the-joy-of-the-lord-is-my-strength-mean.html The original Hebrew for "joy" in Nehemiah 8:10 is "chedvah," meaning joy or gladness. The root word for joy in this context means to rejoice or to make glad. "Strength" in the same verse is a Hebrew word meaning “a place or means of safety, protection refuge, or stronghold.” The root word of strength means “to be strong, prevail; to make firm, strengthen.” The joy of the Lord is a constant gladness and cause to rejoice. It stems from an inner strengthening from our relationship with Him. When Jesus died for us, He restored us to a peace with God that cannot be undone. “Your joy rests on God’s joy,”
[xvi] Romans 15:13 (NASB95) 13Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
[xvii] Gerald F. Hawthorne, Philippians, vol. 43, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 2004), 244. ἐπιεικές, “magnanimity,” a neuter adjective used as an abstract noun, is almost untranslatable (cf. MM). Related as it is to εἰκός, “reasonable,” it radiates the positive ideas of magnanimity or “sweet reasonableness” (to use Matthew Arnold’s phrase [Literature and Dogma, xii, 2]). Aristotle contrasted it with ἀκριβοδίκαιος, “strict justice.” For him it meant a generous treatment of others that, while demanding equity, does not insist on the letter of the law. Willing to admit limitations, it is prepared to make allowances so that justice does not injure. It is a quality, therefore, that keeps one from insisting on one’s full rights,
[xviii] A.W. Tozer in The Pursuit of God
[xix] Tim Jennings, Eight Signs of Jesus’ Soon Return. https://comeandreason.com/eight-signs-of-jesus-soon-return/ -- Scoffers; Wars and rumors of wars; natural disasters, famines, pandemics; Promise of peace and safety; increase loss of faith and persecution of believers; love of most growing cold; Power of entertainment; Nicole Alcindor, Pastor Greg Laurie lists key signs Jesus is coming back: 'We're getting close'https://www.christianpost.com/news/pastor-greg-laurie-lists-key-signs-jesus-is-coming-back.html
[xx] Matthew 6:34 NIV Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Psalm 115:3 NIV3 Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. Isaiah 14:24 NIV 24 The Lord Almighty has sworn, "Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will happen.
[xxi] Kurt Trucksess, Philippians 4:1, 4-8 — How Do I Stand Strong For Christ When Times Are Tough? https://www.christ2rculture.com/resources/Sermons/Peace-In-A-Pandemic/2---How-Do-I-Stand-Strong-For-Christ-When-Times-Are-Tough---Manuscript.pdf
[xxii] See Steve Shirley, How many times did Jesus pray in the bible? https://jesusalive.cc/times-jesus-prayed/ ; Joseph Jordan, How often did Jesus pray (Jesus’ prayer patterns)? https://christianfaithguide.com/how-often-did-jesus-pray/
[xxiii] Psalm 34:17–18 (NASB95) 17The righteous cry, and the LORD hears And delivers them out of all their troubles. 18The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.
[xxiv] Kurt Trucksess, Philippians 4:1, 4-8 — How Do I Stand Strong For Christ When Times Are Tough? https://www.christ2rculture.com/resources/Sermons/Peace-In-A-Pandemic/2---How-Do-I-Stand-Strong-For-Christ-When-Times-Are-Tough---Manuscript.pdf
[xxv] Jennice Vilhauer, How Your Thinking Creates Your Reality, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-forward/202009/how-your-thinking-creates-your-reality
[xxvi]Alistair Beggs,Thinking Like Christ (Philippians 4:4-9) https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/thinking-christ/ Cf., https://www.kcm.org/real-help/faith/learn/how-control-your-thought-life?language_content_entity=en-US
· Whatever is true. What is true? The Word of God. The devil is a liar—and he stands for everything opposite of God’s Word. When you hear thoughts that are condemning, laced with guilt, critical of others or riddled with fear, they aren’t true because they aren’t of God. Anything that is contrary to the Word of God—a disregard for life or marriage, an argument against the tithe or any other command in the Word—is not truth. And it has no place in our thought lives.
· Whatever is noble. The word noble means “righteous, good, honorable, moral, decent, upright.” To think on things that fit this description, we must keep ourselves from thinking things that are the opposite. This includes much of secular entertainment these days. To keep our thoughts on what is good and righteous, we must spend much of our time thinking about the Word of God, and not polluting our minds with the things of this world.
· Whatever is just. It can often be difficult to not dwell on the injustices of the world—there are so many. But putting too much focus on them can be discouraging and breed bitterness, fear and discouragement. When we see injustice, we are called to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves (Proverbs 31:8), pray, and take action when appropriate. But be careful not to let injustice dominate your thought life.
· Whatever is pure. When we were instructed to flee from sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18), that includes sexually immoral thoughts. Lustful thoughts are sinful and destructive, and a key way Satan seeks to control the lives of people in the world. If you struggle with impure thoughts, know this—you have been made free by the blood of Jesus! John 8:36 says, “So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” Ask Him to help you and deliver you—He wants you free.
· Whatever is lovely. Do you think lovely things about others? Or are you cruel and condemning? Love believes the best about others. So, be sure your thoughts toward those around you are lovely and kind—always looking for the good and asking the Lord to help you be a blessing and encouragement to them.
· Whatever is of a good report. There are a lot of bad reports out there. The doctor, the news, our friends and relatives, books and magazines. If we aren’t paying attention, those reports will dominate our thought life. Some people say, “Well, I have to be informed.” It is sometimes helpful to know about world events, but it is not healthy or positive for you to dwell on every negative thing the devil is doing in this world. Keep your thoughts focused on a good report, and surround yourself with others who do the same.
· Whatever is virtuous and praiseworthy. These things are a combination of everything listed above. Righteousness, purity, and just and loving thoughts are virtuous and worthy of praise.