Philippians 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 mind is a battlefield. Both God and Satan desire to control our thoughts and attitudes, for the things that we dwell on eventually are expressed in both words and actions. I saw a secular music company advertisement years ago of a teenager with headphones on and the caption read something like this: “If we get them in their ears, it will impact their lives”. They understood that what goes into the ear gate affects the mind, and influences one’s values and attitudes. The same is true with what enters the eye gate. Scripture teaches us that what is in our heart influences our thinking (Proverbs 4:23; Luke 6:45). Thus, renewing our way of thinking necessitates guarding our hearts.
This battle for “Philippians 4:8” kind of thinking is a moment by moment, hour by hour, situation by situation battle. There is God’s way of thinking about people, places and things, and there is Satan’s way of thinking about people, places and things. There is God’s way of thinking about creation, gender, possessions, temptations, etc., and there is Satan’s way of thinking about the very same things. Man never comes up with an original way of thinking. What we think about comes from these two “mental menus”. One way of thinking leads to death and destruction, the other leads to life and peace (Romans 8:6). The choice belongs to us.
Renew your mind with the Word of God (Romans 12:2). Bring every thought into subjection to Christ. Choose wisely and live. Selah
