UV 259/10,000 Your thoughts become things

Php 4:8 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.


The way we think and what we think is both the first thing and the final thing in a life of faith. The Lord transforms us not by changing our bodies into glorified ones in the twinkling of the eye but He transforms our thoughts by saturating our minds with things of good report. Our thoughts should be such that it can be something we can write home about or talk about in the public domain.

Our minds must be focused on the excellent aspects of our faith and experience. Some may say that this verse is an endorsement for positive thinking and an excuse to ignore the negative in our lives. All through Scripture, thinking about and dealing with the negative in practical ways is equally focused on. We need a bifocal 20-20 vision meaning – we lead from the positive and deal with the negative. For instance, in order ot think of what is true, one has to deal with the lies in his or her life, lies in our thoughts, intentions, desires, relationships and actions. The process of renewing the mind consists of a dual process of seeding and deweeding simultaneously in the human mind: seed and deweed thoughts, emotions, decisions and actions will follow suit. The more we absorb the positive like a sponge, the more we must reject and eject the negative.

Our thoughts itself are a sweet smelling aroma, a sacrifice of righteousness and continual praise and prayer to the Lord. The Lord reads our thoughts constantly though He does not interfere with our freedom to think as we choose to. Very often the Lord has revealed in prayer thoughts in my mind that I had told nobody, using the very words in my mind. Once, I was so astonished and happy to hear, “ My servant Daniel prayed thrice a day at set times. But you are praying all the time.” He was acknowledging that my thoughts directed at Him were acceptable to him as prayer. The Psalmist desired that not just his words but the meditations of his heart are pleasing to the Lord. He sees our thoughts at the deepest level: the motivation for each thought. Hence, he found Cain’s sacrifice unacceptable and Abel’s pleasing.

Prateep V Philip