Think On These Things
Eliminating Vain Imaginations
by Pastor Mary Capper
Have you ever found yourself fixating on a pothole in life, desperately trying to avoid it, only to end up smack in the middle? It’s like trying to steer clear of trouble but somehow finding yourself right in the thick of it. When I was learning to drive, my parents wisely advised me, “If you focus on the pothole, you’ll hit it every time.”
Isn’t it intriguing how our focus tends to dictate our outcomes? Paul underscores this truth in Philippians 4:8 (NASB)
"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
He urges us to dwell on the good stuff. It’s like he is saying, "Hey, pay attention to what you're paying attention to!"
Too often, we let our minds wander into the realm of worst-case scenarios. "I didn’t get invited... they must not like me." "They didn’t save me a seat... I guess I'm not included." Sound familiar? It’s a subtle shift from focusing on the positive to fixating on ourselves—"ME" or "I."
But here’s the kicker! When we indulge in anything less than thoughts of truth and beauty, our minds spiral into a whirlwind of vain imaginations. It's like we're manufacturing our own misery.
I adore how The Message paraphrases Philippians 4:8-9,
"Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious - the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies."
It's like a breath of fresh air, urging us to fill our minds with the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly. Picture it—dwell on the praiseworthy things, not things that drag you down.
So, what if we took that challenge to heart? What if we made a conscious effort to meditate on the good stuff, to see the beauty amidst the chaos?
Let me challenge you to put Philippians 4:8-9 into practice. Where there is tension, disappointment, or the temptation to throw a pity party, let's flip the script. Instead of dwelling on what went wrong, let’s watch as God weaves the threads of our experiences into something truly magnificent—a masterpiece of his grace and goodness.
Remember, it’s all about where you choose to fix your gaze. Colossians 3:2 (NASB) reminds us to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. So, let’s aim high and watch as God orchestrates a symphony of beauty from the chaos of our thoughts.