Think Biblically

Philippians 4:8 (New Living Translation)

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.

If we are going to have inner peace from God and maintain a life free of worry, then these eight steps must be taken, in our thought life. This list describes what should permeate our minds. Believers should fix their thoughts on things that are:

1. True

Truth includes facts and statements that are in accordance with reality. Not lies, rumors, or embellishments. Truth is sincere (not deceitful or with evil motives), and loyal, faithful, proper, reliable, and genuine. Truth is a characteristic of God.

Colossians 3:9 (Amplified Bible)
Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old (unregenerate) self with its evil practices.

2. Honorable

Thinking about things that our honorable would be thinking on matters that are worthy of respect, dignified, and exalted in a character or excellence.

John 5:23 (Amplified Bible)
So that all men may give honor (reverence, homage) to the Son just as they give honor to the Father. [In fact] whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, Who has sent Him.

3. Right

We must train our minds to have right thoughts and plans that meet God’s standards of rightness. They are in keeping with the truth; they are righteous. These would be thoughts that agree with God’s Word. In other words, thoughts that agree with God’s way of thinking.

Proverbs 16:3 (Amplified Bible)
Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.

4. Pure

Thoughts that are free from contamination or blemish. Moral purity is often very difficult to maintain in thoughts, but not impossible. If we will renew our minds to God’s Word, we can cleans our mind from impure and immoral thinking.

Matthew 5:8 (Gods Word).
Blessed are those whose thoughts are pure. They will see God.

5. Lovely

Lovely thoughts are biblically agreeable thoughts of moral and spiritual use, and not of evil. Wishing ill upon someone who has done you wrong is not thinking that is lovely toward that individual. Always think in the vein of God’s love.

Colossians 3:2 (Gods Word)
Keep your mind on things above, not on worldly things.

6. Admirable

Admirable thoughts are things that speak well of the thinker. They are thoughts that recommend, give confidence in, offer approval or praise, reveal positive and constructive thinking. A christian’s thoughts, if heard by others, should be admirable, not embarrassing. Thoughts that are continually negative about oneself or life are not admirable; but thoughts of faith and trust in God are admirable.

1 Timothy 3:7 (New International Version)
He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

7. Excellent

We as children of God should have moral (ethical) excellence (quality, merit). No substandard (second-rate) quality. Excellence is an attribute of God, and we can also have this attribute in our thinking. Our mindsets should be one of excellence. Excellence in everything we do!

2 Peter 1:5 (New Living Translation)
In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge.

8. Worthy of praise

This phrase could be restated as “anything that deserves the thinker’s praise” or “anything that God deems praiseworthy.” Thoughts that line up with God’s Word are the only thoughts God can agree with and deem praiseworthy.

Psalms 106:2 (GW)
who can speak about all the mighty things the Lord has done? Who can announce all the things for which he is worthy of praise?

Thinking Biblically

We are to think biblically, knowing that God has promised to care for us in any situation, no matter how unsettling it may seem. Discipline your mind to honor and glorify God, to please Him in all situations. “Think” kind and tender thoughts toward the very person with whom you are or have been irritated. Focus your thoughts on solving the current problem throught God’s help and not worring about the future.

James 1:5 (New Living Translation)

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.