What do you think about? Where does your mind wander as you wake up, while you’re getting ready, when you’re driving, after you interact with friends, family, or coworkers? If you were to write down the thoughts (good or bad) that get the majority of your attention throughout the day, what would they be? The average person has thousands of thoughts each day (depending on the study, anywhere from 6,200-70,000). Even on the low end of that spectrum, that’s a lot!

As a follower of Christ, what should you think about, and can you influence what occupies your mind? For about the last year, I’ve found myself often meditating on the same handful of verses - one of those is Philippians 4:8, which says:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)

Before Paul writes verse 8, he speaks to unity in Christ, rejoicing in the Lord, not to be anxious but instead to pray with thanksgiving. Then Paul tells believers what to think about - whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Are those the thoughts that dominate your mind? If the answer is no, how can that change?

Veritas, we are Bible people. One necessity to be followers of Christ who are in the world but not of the world is to regularly read God’s Word. As your mind is regularly filled with God’s Word, you will more likely think about what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, etc. 

Paul says to think about these things. So, yes, read your Bibles regularly - God’s Word is filled with what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, excellent, and worthy of praise. But don’t stop there. Think about these things! How?

Dwell on them; continue to ponder or meditate on a phrase, verse, idea, or a thought you read in your Bible each day. Don’t simply close your Bible until tomorrow and move on to other things. The Greek word Paul uses for think in verse 8 is logizesthe, which essentially means to count or evaluate something a certain way. So, as you read and meditate on God’s Word, you count or value it as good. You don’t just read it intellectually like you would a textbook; you read it and value it as true, honorable, just, pure, etc. You dwell or meditate on that throughout the day.

With all of that said, if you are anything like me, you will still see things and have thoughts that aren’t true… Then what? We must replace those thoughts with things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, excellent, and worthy of praise, and that is so much easier to do if you are reading and meditating on God’s Word every day. Veritas, let’s be Bible people. Let’s be people who aren’t continually impacted by our culture in negative ways. Let’s be devoted to the right things - one of those being the apostles' teaching (Acts 2) → God’s Word! If you have a current rhythm of Bible reading, keep it up. If not, look for our bible reading plan in our bookstore and app. Also, check out our resources for bible studies at Veritas and get to work applying the Bible with others.