Whatever Things Are True... Philippians 4:8

Philippians 4:8 says, “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.”

     This way of thinking is so foreign in our current culture. Our everyday life is so influenced by and full of gossip, lies, and fake. You can't turn on your TV or computer or look at newspapers or magazines without seeing the junk that is filling our society. Sex, alcohol and drugs control so many lives. We're told that the way we are isn't good enough. We need to do our makeup a certain way or wear a certain type of clothes or listen to a certain type of music to be accepted. We're influenced to believe in basically whatever you want as long as it isn't God.
     What is the problem with this? These things we're being told are the opposite of what we need to be meditating on. We choose to see, hear and think about everything accept for what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous or praiseworthy. So what is the truth? The truth is that we are sinners living in a fallen world, but we were created and are loved by a perfect and amazing God whose grace is overwhelming.
     I have lived a lot of my life letting myself be consumed with thoughts about myself and others that are untrue, impure, ugly, etc... My prayer lately has been that God would renew my mind(Romans 12:2). I don't want to see things or think about things the way that I used to. It doesn't matter what I have done. I am free and loved. I can't sit and think about who I used to be or what I really deserve. The truth now is that I have been washed clean by the sacrifice of my Savior.
     I have realized that the enemy uses my thoughts to keep me captive and chained to my past. I am in a war against the enemy but I am not on my own and the weapons that I have aren't the same as the world's. 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” I need to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. I need to put my thoughts in their place. I need to test them. Is what I'm thinking true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous or praiseworthy? If not then I need to get rid of it and replace it with a thought that is. This is something that I have been really working on for the past few months. This is something that you could be praying for me. My application is to continue working on this and write, “Is it true...?” on my wrist for the next week as a reminder.