thoughts

I’m beginning to really understand how powerful my thoughts are. Oh, I can’t bend spoons or kill goats with my brain, but the way I think affects my attitudes, my perceptions, and my whole day. And it impacts everyone around me. In fact, my thoughts can sometimes change my surroundings. If I think someone’s a jerk, he is. If I think someone’s really sweet, so she turns out to be. It’s as if I can think things into existence.

It’s important, then, that I manage my thoughts carefully. Paul knew that when he wrote this in Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

To me, this means a couple of things. First, I shouldn’t think about bad things, things that aren’t true or noble or pure or admirable. I shouldn’t think hateful or vengeful thoughts. My mental life shouldn’t include profanity or name-calling. I shouldn’t wonder about sin or mull over evil.

But then, I should think about praiseworthy things, not just of them. Thinking of things is kind of like listing them. Counting my blessings is good, but I think Paul’s after more here.

I think Paul wants me to think about admirable things as a way of thinking about God. If I observe and evaluate and think over the good things, it could lead me to greater appreciation. If I wonder about causes or maybe about how to reinforce or perpetuate the right and pure things, it might move me to action.

I can use the power of my thoughts to motivate and activate a faithful life. Any other use is probably misuse.