Swindoll Study Bible and Searching the Scriptures - Flipbook - Page 21
P hilippians 4 : 1 0
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Fix Your Thoughts
PHILIPPIANS 4:8
D O YOU HAVE occasional idle moments during the day? We all do, of course. In those
pauses, what do you let your mind dwell on? What do you think about when you don’t have
to think about anything in particular? It can be easy to ruminate on thoughts of blame or
self-pity. Take Philippians 4:8 to heart! Whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and
admirable—think on those things.
The cynic will rush to criticize the idea of this mind-set: “This is living in unreality. It’s
a dreamworld philosophy.” But give some thought to the six things Paul says we should
set our minds on. Note that the apostle’s first descriptive word is
true. That is, Paul urges us to think about things that are reliable,
We are to think
valid, and honest, not deceptive or illusory. It is not a dreamworld.
on those things
Christ introduces us to the real world, where He is in control.
A dreamworld, in contrast, is an imaginary one where the person
that stand in
is his or her own maker.
stark contrast to
By honorable, Paul means we are to think on what is revered,
evil and wrong.
not what is cheap or superficial. He is not talking about slap-happy,
simplistic thinking. We are to dwell on deep truth. Paul follows this
with thinking what is right—things that are upright and just and fair. The apostle did not see
himself as above this rule. It is a godly standard that calls us all to account and to higher
virtue. It urges us to imitate our all-good heavenly Father. We are to think on those things
that stand in stark contrast to evil and wrong.
Next, Paul includes that which is pure. This cuts right to the intentions of the heart. Our
thoughts should stem from pure motives that can withstand God’s scrutiny. They should be
chaste and undefiled, not smutty, shabby, or soiled.
Fifth, we are called to think on whatever is lovely. This refers to things that are amiable,
pleasing, and agreeable. How we need that! The evangelical, conservative camp is sometimes seen as the ugly duckling of Protestantism. We get pigeonholed as fighters, the
people who have too little tolerance. We get a bad reputation in the eyes of the world when
we stand aloof: Unless you walk with us exactly in step, we don’t give you the time of day.
We think a conversation with an unbeliever is worthless if they don’t convert or at least visit
a church. (There’s a little more truth in that description than I’m comfortable with.) How
often do we think of what is pleasing, winsome, and appealing to everyone?
Finally, we are to fix our minds on what is admirable—that which is praiseworthy, attractive, and of good report. Think of this category as containing the things that are fit for God to
hear. For example, once during a forty-minute drive I decided to think about three particular
individuals. As I dwelt on the reasons they meant so much to me, the “admirable,” I was
remarkably refreshed in my inner person. This exercise led to true contentment, the kind
Paul speaks of in Philippians 4:11.
As believers, our minds have been freed to think on these things rather than on the
many negative and selfish thoughts that could consume us every day.