100% Philippians 4:8 Approved

"...fill your minds with beauty and truth. Meditate on whatever is honorable, whatever is right,whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is good, 

whatever is virtuous and praiseworthy..."

Philippians 4:8

(The Voice)

     There is a very good reason to listen to these words; you are what you fill your mind with. Fill you mind with nastiness, and you become nasty. Fill your mind with sweetness and you yourself become more sweet. 

your heart/ mind is like a sponge.  It soaks up whatever it is set in, but it is up to you to decide what you will allow your sponge to be placed in. It is up to you to choose whether your sponge will be allowed to soak up clean, lovely stuff or become rancid from marinating in filth and grime. 

     One may say here that this is and easy line to walk until you are no longer in control of the circumstances you've been set in. One may say that some situations make it impossible to think about something good, because in some situations, there is no good to be had. I challenge that, and I challenge that with great conviction. 

"I can be content in any and every situation through the One who is my power and strength."

Philippians 4:13  (The Voice)

I challenge you, and I challenge the way of thinking that says "positive thinking has its limits."  Through Christ, the one who gives you power and strength, you CAN find joy in every circumstance. He WILL help  you take away the limits that YOU have placed on your ability to think positively. You CAN find something that is "100% Philippians 4:8 approved" to dwell on, to fill your mind with, and soak your mental sponge in. I know this because, I know "[we] can do all things through Christ who gives [us] strength!"  I know this because I know that the Bible says that if your thoughts are "Philippians 4:8 Approved," you will have joy, and joy will be like medicine to you.

"A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones."

Proverbs 17:22

So, Dear Reader,  I issue this challenge: Test your thoughts. Ask, "Is what I'm thinking 'Philippians 4:8 approved?"  Sometimes you may have to work hard to find something good, beautiful, praiseworthy, etc. to focus on, and sometimes the most honorable thing to do is walk away, but I challenge you to believe that there is always good to be found in every circumstance. I challenge you not only to believe that; I challenge you to act. Find the good. Cling to it. Plant it like a seed in your soul. Nourish it. Cherish it, and make it grow.