HEAVENSREEF

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.”

Oh how our minds are bombarded daily with all sorts of info through social media and mainly our cell phones.  Remember that old saying:  a mind is a terrible thing to waste?  As Christians we need to take stock on what goes into our minds, what we think of daily and if we continually renew our minds through GOD’S word.

I’m afraid the world wants to pervert our thinking and our minds as of late.  We need to be better about speaking up and ask JESUS to help us to be bold when saying “no” that is false or no that is sick and twisted.  Every day it appears that we hear something more outrageous than the next.  What is one to do?  Let’s have our words reflect the true light of the Gospel!

The scripture above is a game changer……and it begins with the words: finally brother and sisters.  I am a simple girl and I love when one scripture packs in so much I need to know and speaks so directly to me.  And this verse should get our attention with the word: finally.

Let’s begin here to ask ourselves what whatever is!

WHATEVER IS TRUE

This one is easy and very obvious……truth only can be found in scripture, GOD’S Holy Word, HIS promises are true and the whole Bible is an anchor for our souls.  Hold up anything we are unsure of to scripture and we will figure out the truth.

WHATEVER IS NOBLE

To be noble is to possess high or excellent qualities……I think there is only ONE who has this and it is JESUS CHRIST.

WHATEVER IS RIGHT

Our society functions on what is right or wrong, although as of late you have to wonder.  But most of us know and understand what is right and what is wrong.  As Christians, we choose to do the “right” thing, no matter how hard or difficult.  JESUS always did the right thing and was without sin.  HE is a perfect model for this.  Remember the “what would JESUS do” question?  I have never forgotten it and it spurs me on daily to know and to learn what were the choices JESUS made in HIS ministry.  What better model we have in HIM.  What a perfect example.  And oh how HIS words to us in the GOOD BOOK always point to what is right for us.

 

 

WHATEVER IS PURE

Oh the purity of CHRIST and oh how HIS dying on the Cross for us makes us pure as well…..PSALM 51: 7 says this:  “cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.”  May our hearts remain pure in HIM, also our words and deeds.  We can only accomplish this through HIM.

WHATEVER IS LOVELY

How often seeing lovely around us only escapes our eyes!  We are quite good at focusing on the ugly and negative things around us, simply not seeing GOD’S beautiful creation around us that we seem to take for granted.  Look hard for the lovely things, because they are there every single day.

WHATEVER IS ADMIRABLE

Let’s examine our hearts today with what and whom do we admire most?  Is it CHRIST over all?  When we admire we respect also.  Let us hold that respect for CHRIST always in a way that we speak of HIM and HIS words.

So if any of these things, that are excellent and praiseworthy are evident to us, as the scripture says:  think about such things.  Let’s keep our minds off of all the garbage in this world and place our minds securely on JESUS.  Let HIS words sink in deep every single day.  HOLD HIM high above all else, praising and worshiping as you go about your day……..never forgetting that whatever is……..is our KING, JESUS CHRIST!

PHILIPPIANS 4: 9  “WHATEVER YOU HAVE LEARNED OR RECEIVED OR HEARD FROM ME, OR SEEN IN ME – PUT IT INTO PRACTICE.  AND THE GOD OF PEACE WILL BE WITH YOU.”