It all begins with a thought
Our thoughts govern our actions and they determine our lives. The bible echoes this out loud:
Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV)
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
Whatever or whoever we think we are, we will be. So, if our thoughts are so powerful and significant, what kind of thoughts should we be thinking? The good news is that we can find detailed instructions by reading the word of God:
Philippians 4:8 (NLT)
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
This verse is part of a passage in which the Apostle Paul wrote a message of encouragement to the church in Philippi. If we read Paul’s opening in Chapter 1 of this epistle (cf. Philippians 1), it tells us that the Philippians have brought great joy and encouragement to Paul because of their prayer and good works.
Many bible scholar believes that Paul wrote this letter to the Philippi Church when he was imprisoned in Rome (cf. Philippians 1:7, 14). If we have a deeper understanding of this background and context, that will amplify the verse ‘Philippians 4:8’ more than just reading it on its own.
Paul was jailed because of fervently preaching the Good News and there was every reason for him to dwell on negative thoughts, to doubt God and to lose his faith. Instead, his perspective was the complete opposite and here’s a timeless principle we can learn:
Fix our thoughts on what is of godly character not our circumstances.
Paul was teaching the Philippians and is teaching us to count our blessings, not our problems. He is exhorting us to call forth our future, not complain about the present or the past.
So the question to ponder upon is what are we thinking about daily? Do we gloat on our problems and circumstances or do we meditate on thoughts which are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praise-worthy? Do we have a complaining attitude in our minds and hearts or do you have faith in a greater future which God has in store for us?
Always ask ourselves:
What am I thinking today that will bring faith, hope and love in my life?
But that is not all. Faith without action is dead. That is true for our thoughts as well. We can have all the positive thoughts in our mind, but we do not act upon them, they amount to nothing.
In fact, the Apostle Paul did not just instruct the Philippi church to just think and think and think, he goes on in the next verse:
Philippians 4:9 (NLT)
Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me — everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Paul wanted the Philippians to first fix their thoughts first, then act upon them as well. However, it is not just once but to keep on doing them till they became godly and spiritual habits.
There is a famous quote which author and origin are not the clearest, yet it holds an undeniable truth:
“Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.”
It begins with a thought and that thought will if acted upon will shape who we are and who we will become in the future.
It is simple: If we can think it, we can see it. If we can see it, we can do it. What we can conceive and believe in our thoughts, we can achieve through our actions.
So more than just evaluating our thought life, make sure we ask ourselves this question:
What am I doing today that will bring me closer to my destiny in God?
Find out more about the amazing church I call home: Heart of God Church.
