Whatever is lovely...

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. Php 4:8 

 

The biblical principles that we can learn to follow are outstanding for living a successful life.  How often do our minds tend to run toward the negative and the thoughts of doom that go round and round and round, robbing of us sleep and joy.  The battlefield for our joy and peace, and indeed for successful outcomes in life, is in the mind, and often because of our "stinking" thinking, we can abort our potential success.  A scripture so relevant to teach us this principal is:-

 

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Pro 23:7

 

I struggled for many years, with a very low and poor self-esteem, believing that I was a waste of breath, and it took the Word of God and His truth, to break that stronghold in my life when constantly mediating on God's thoughts about me.  This changed my whole outlook on life when I began to realise that God has a plan for me.  I was not superfluous but that God actually had me born for a reason, and that reason has been slowing unfolding as I continue to walk with the Saviour.

Our mind and heart are closely intertwined, for the things we constantly think on affect our emotions.  Think about this.  A marriage starts off with great dreams and promises, and in the course of life, the dream quickly fades.  Why?  Because quite often we begin to see the things that annoy us in our spouse and we think about these and begin to get disgruntled.  This reminds me so much of the principle Jesus taught us in Revelation in speaking to the church of Ephesus.

 

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. Rev 2:4:5   

 

Remember and do.  Often a marriage can be saved when a spouse can take the initiative to remember the good things that attracted them to their spouse and to begin to show the love they first had when they began to date.  Focusing on the good things, particularly the spouse's great attributes and the blessings of being in the marriage will turn the heart around.

 

It is so imperative for us to mediate on the truth in the Word of God, as scripture is able to show us the thoughts and intentions of our heart.  The light of the Word brings out those things hiding in the dark caverns of our heart, all those things in us opposed to Godly truth, that hold us back from living in the freedom God wants us to have.  Therefore scripture is clear that we are to:-

 

cast down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 2Co 10:5 

 

Our thoughts come from our hearts which is why scripture clearly tells us to "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." (Pro 4:23) 

 

Jesus often challenged people's thinking.  But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? (Mat 9:4) and this is why Jesus, extended the commandments from the physical action to the thought life, (i.e. "Thou shalt not commit adultery" to even if a man lusts after a women in his heart, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  Often the physical act is the outcome of the seeds of thought that began in the heart and are mediated upon.

The loveliest thing we can meditate on is the Word of God that reveals the heart of the Father toward us through Jesus Christ His Son.

 

Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered. Psa 40:5