Re-Set The Mind

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy— meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

 

Philippians 4:8-9

 

 

 

There are so many things—good and bad—that happen in life that we can focus our minds on:

 

• Setbacks
• Financial problems
• Hurts that people have inflicted upon us

Or

 

• Blessings
• Doors that have opened
• Well-spring of joys we experiences daily 

The list could go on and on…

 

However, when we are in the midst of pain of those real life situations, there is nothing that our mind, our flesh wants to do more than to dwell on that thing, to stew over it, to relive it over and over again.

 

But what is the result of that action?

 

The result is that we live in that pain, failure, tragedy, disappointment continually—it gets into us—and that is what we become. Romans 8:6 says it well: The mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.

 

What will we experience? Living death!

 

What will we lack in our lives? Life and peace!

 

Our quality of life is completely dependent on where our minds are set.

So God, through Paul, is giving us clear, specific guidelines on what to focus our minds on:

 

• True things
• Noble things
• Just things
• Pure things
• Lovely things
• Excellent things or Good Report  

We are to focus our mind on these kinds of things, and when we can't see or find anything like that around us to focus our minds on, then it's time to turn our thoughts toward God who is all of those qualities! And when we do, we will experience life and peace, even at a greater level than we have previously known. 

 

In Colossians, God says, "Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ," to make sure that everything that goes on in our head aligns with His commands and character. And so we need to diligently and deliberately "set" our mind on the true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and excellent things. Then we will experience a lot more of God's divine life and peace in our lives, and experience more of His intimate presence.