“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8, NIV)

Our days are often filled with so many things to do it is almost impossible to get them all accomplished. A demanding client, co-worker, or customer, an overdue project, phone call after phone call, or a multitude of other things only add to the stress of our day. We seem to find very little time to simply step back and clear our minds. As a result, what we think about in those moments is a strong indicator as to where we are spiritually.

What do you think about when you are stressed and overworked?

Do you think about things that are pure and lovely as Paul suggests, or do you think about how frustrated and angry you are? Paul gives us a picture of where our minds should be – at all times. He understood that what we think about will eventually trickle down and become who we are. Negative thoughts will lead to a negative personality; pure and lovely thoughts will lead to a gracious and positive personality. Therefore, we need to guard our thoughts and our minds. Just as our body needs exercise to stay in shape, so does our mind. We need to study the Word of God regularly so that our thoughts receive the proper amount of exercise, too. It doesn’t happen over night. It’s a lifelong process that builds character and integrity. Most importantly, studying the Word of God will bring you closer to the Lord! And that, my friends, is excellent and praiseworthy.

Enjoy your day, “Working for Christ!”