Tag Archives: mind

Mind Control

There is a verse in the Bible from Philippians 4:8 that says,  “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.”

I heard a sermon years ago in which the pastor said that we should put this verse above our televisions. This way we could gauge what we watched by whether is was pure, lovely, admirable, etc.  Although I never put it above my TV, I thought about this for years and tried to watch things that fell either into, or close to, this ideal.

Many years later I came across this verse again.  This time I felt that the Lord was telling me to use this verse in my personal life, especially with my husband.  Typically, I am a light hearted and positive person, however, with Tom I can be especially judgmental.   Tom and I were married when I was 32 and he was 41.  We had both done things our own way for many years and thought that the way that we did them was the right way (as most people do).  I think that both being first borns doesn’t help either.  A friend of ours once told us that he thought that we would “argue over the color of the grass”.  We probably would. After eight years Tom and I can both laugh about this fact and believe it or not, but we argue less now than we ever have. All this to say that I need to think more positively about my husband and his actions, or in-actions.

Now, lets look at this verse again…..”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.”

This means that I shouldn’t focus on where he put his shoes, what he fed the kids or how messy his side of the room is.  :)

I am to focus on the things that he does well.  I should focus on the things that I can praise him for:  how hard he works, that he fed the kids, that he ran the dishwasher, that he picked up the toys, that he played with the kids, that he gave me time for myself, and that he tries to be a good husband and father.

Our thoughts are what make us who we are.  We can focus on the negative things in life or we can focus on the many blessings that God has given us.  I try to teach my kids that everyday, especially when they complain that they didn’t get something or life isn’t fair.  We are to focus on what is “true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy”.

The other day I put up a dry erase board in the kitchen on the side of one of the cabinets.  This white board now contains this verse.  I am hoping that seeing it will remind me daily to take my thoughts captive and to focus only on the things in my life that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy.