As you think, so you are

There has been a dangerous trend among believers over the last few decades. As a result, teachings of God’s word are either misrepresented or ignored altogether, replaced with self-promoting or self-help instruction and empty promises of man. This motivational preaching may make one feel better after a service. However, this tickling of the ear is no service at all to the listener.

Though true, the Word of God tells us to think “positively” in Philippians 4:8.

“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.”

However, this is not just “motivational” speaking because Paul explains what he refers to in the next verse.

“Those things, which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of Peace shall be with you.”

Paul had preached salvation to them, and they had witnessed what the work of Jesus and the Holy Spirit accomplished in his life with their eyes. So Paul’s instruction here is not to think happy thoughts. Instead, teach that Sanctifying Peace will be ours if our thoughts are on the teachings of Jesus Christ and the praiseworthy things that are accomplished because of Him who died for us.

Self-help will never accomplish what our troubled souls seek, whether peace or healing because the problem is “self.” There is nothing “good” in us apart from Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. If it were possible for us to be perfect we would never have an issue or problem.

Therefore, as scripture states, we must think about “Godly” things that will encourage, refresh, lift, and heal our souls.

When we call on the name of the Lord, He begins a work in us through the Holy Spirit. As we feed our spirit with the Word of God, our spirit grows.

We read in 1 Corinthians 2:14-16

“The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for,

“Who has known the mind of the Lord

so as to instruct him?”

But we have the mind of Christ.”

When we receive the Holy Spirit, we have access to the “mind of Christ,” which means we can “discern” 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.

Doing this, and reading God’s Word, will build up our spirit, encourage us, grow us, and give us peace in this fallen world that will surpass the non-believer’s ability to understand.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." - John 14:27