“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true… noble… just… pure… lovely… of good report… if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8

Truthful Thinking

It has been a long, hard-won discipline in my life to “think on these things.” I have an overactive imagination that does not voluntarily switch off when I turn out the lights at night, nor at any other time when I am free to think about whatever I want to think about. Yet I know that what I think about when I am free to think about whatever I want is a mark of my maturity in Christ, and an indicator of my devotion to Him and my commitment to purity.

We all have to fight the enemy in order to think right thoughts. Satan would be so happy for us to get our mind on things of the earth instead of the things above. In particular, he seems to have a special fondness for deceiving us into thinking things are true that are not true.

So we MUST be determined and disciplined to think on true things. The word truth translates literally as “that which is not hidden.” Knowing this makes it easier to decide at least some of things we should not think about. Tomorrow is hidden from us; so are outcomes of events, the day of the Lord’s return, the weather, and the day and method of our death. If they are hidden, then they are things we should not meditate on. In other words, whatever we imagine will happen, may never come to pass. Don’t waste your time. God already knows, and we don’t need to. If we needed to know, He would have told us.

Instead, we are to trust in the Lord. We don’t lean on our own understanding, but we acknowledge His ways, His love for us, His power and ability. He is abundantly able to run the universe, and our thoughts about it will not change His mind. (Thankfully.)

“Lord, help us think on true things—Your Word, Your Son, Yourself. These are enough for a lifetime of thoughts. Protect us from deception by teaching us to think on what is true. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”