Philippians 4:8 (NLT)
Fix
your thoughts on what is true, honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and
admirable. Think about things that are
excellent and worthy of praise.
Do you know what ‘THRPL’ means? THRPL is a somewhat convoluted approach that
worked for me in memorizing part of this verse.
The first two letters TH can be remembered because the word ‘THE’ starts
many sentences. TH is true and
honorable. Then the ‘RPL’ descend from T
in the alphabet---right, pure, lovely.
Just remembering these first five adjectives go a long way to remind you
what your brain should be dwelling on.
The previous verse—Philippians 4:7—stated,
in part, that the peace of God will guard your mind. The Greek term for guard means “to keep watch
over”. Just as soldiers are stationed to
guard and secure a village or city or nation, the peace of God does the same
thing to your mind. A mind of peace is
free from worry, fear, doubt, and all other adverse stresses. So a mind of peace that is a mind that can
accommodate these qualities found in verse 8.
Basically, Philippians 4:8 is instructing
you to fill your mind with positive thoughts.
Easier said than done, right?
Worry and fear and all other distressing thoughts won’t disappear
quickly if you habitually think this way.
Reading, listening and watching the news everyday will certainly fill
your mind with negative thoughts and a mind geared to think negatively is also
going to be adversely affected by all the hardships going on daily in your own
life. It takes a sincere desire to want
to change and to try everyday to fix your thoughts on all these positive things
listed in this verse.
Philippians 4:8 advocates meditation (“fix
your thoughts” or “let you mind dwell on these things”). Here are the eight pearls of God that you
should be thinking or meditating about:
1. What
is true—The Word of Christ (…”I am the truth….”). Could it be that much of what you think about
are lies not supported by Scripture? For
example, do you think that you are not good enough or attractive enough? Is this consistent with biblical teaching
that you were created in the image of God?
Dwell on the truth, not on self-deceptive lies.
2. Honorable
things—What or whom do you revere? Think
about the Christians in your life whose lifestyles you know are honorable and
noble.
3. What
is right—Contemplate only on things that you are convinced are morally good,
that are right in God’s sight. What do
your eyes look at?
4. Whatever
is pure—I have a close friend whose favorite verse in the Bible is Matthew
5:8---“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God”. Pure thoughts are free from sin.
5. Lovely
things—What is acceptable and pleasing in your life? Think about your loved ones, think about
things in God’s creation that you know are lovely and pleasing to Him.
6. Admirable
things—What actions and attitudes do you see or hear about in others that you
know would attract the admiration of the Lord?
Think about admirable things that you can say to and do for others.
7. Excellent
things—These are things of moral excellence (see II Peter 1:5). Moral excellence is obedience to the Word of
God. One of my favorite all-time
Christian books is one of Swindoll’s books:
Living Above The Level of Mediocrity—A Commitment to Excellence
(Thomas Nelson, 1989). If you ever read
this book, you will experience a change in your way of thinking and, in turn,
behaving.
8. What
is worthy of praise-What is adored by God?
Think about the sunrise and sunset (they “shout for joy”—Psalm 65:8). Think about all other aspects of God’s
glorious creation. Everyday read and
meditate what the Psalms say and teach.
Can you better understand how fixing your
thoughts on these positive qualities will enable your mind to be open to the
peace of God? Transforming from a
negative to a positive mindset will not happen quickly or easily, but at least
start the transformation right now if you haven’t already. The main point of Swindoll’s book about a
commitment to excellence in life is that it starts with the mind. Fix your mind, your thoughts, on the things
of God and He will give you His perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3).
Evenin
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