Online Reporter
Trust Maanda
Looking at the Unseen
PHILIPPIANS 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Think on these eight things.
The Bible is admonishing us to only think about positive things and lists the things.
The things must be true, honest, just, lovely, pure, of virtue and praise.
We must think about things that are true.
The true things are the things of God.
His Word is true and is the Truth.
We must think about things that are of honesty.
We must think about how to deal with honestly and not with cunningness.
We must think of fair and honest dealing.
We must focus on things that are just.
We must not think about how to trick someone and enrich ourselves in the process.
We must be just in everything. We should think about how we can be just and fair.
We are further admonished to think about things that are pure. We must be pure in our minds and consciences.
We are further called upon to think of things that are lovely.
We must not think of bad things or harbour jealousy and hate.
We should dwell on things that are lovely, and not things that are evil.
God says in Jeremiah that He knows the thoughts He has for us; thoughts of good and not of harm, thoughts to bring us to a hopeful end.
He calls upon us to think the same good thoughts: pure and lovely thoughts.
We should think about things that are of a good report.
If a thing is not good to be reported on, do not think of it.
Think on things that are of a good report and that make positive reading if they were to be reported on. Get your mind out of the gutter.
Your mind is not a trash can.
It is not a cesspool.
It must be factory of deeds that are of good report.
We must think about things that are of virtue.
Virtue is behaviour that shows high moral standards.
We must think of things that are of high moral standards, whatever those things are.
Lastly, we are called upon to think about things that of praise.
If a thing does not bring praise to God, do not think about it. If a thing does not glorify God in your life, do not think about it.
When we think about these eight things, we are thinking of God’s thoughts.
Let His thoughts be your thoughts.
And take them into your carnal mind, and repeat them over and over.
Say: “O God, take all my doubt away, and let my thoughts be Your thoughts.”
If you are sick, just cast away the thought of sickness.
Take God’s healing thoughts, let them become your thoughts.
I was reading an article where there was a home of five boys.
All the boys went to join the American navy.
The mother and father could not understand just why these boys all went to join the navy.
They found out that in the bedroom where these boys were brought up there was a beautiful big picture hanging there of a big ship sailing on a quiet, calm sea.
And it so impressed the boys as they went to bed every night, looking at this picture.
It was on their mind to sail that quiet, soothing sea.
Every morning when they rose, the first thing they could look at was that ship making her way through the quiet, calm sea.
And it impressed the boys so much that each one became a sailor.
If the picture of a ship will impress boys to become navy men, sailors of the sea, what will the things we are called upon to think about do to us if we keep our minds on them?
They will create a good character, for our deeds are a manifestation of our thoughts.
Someone once had a slogan that says: “Do three things in life. First thing is do right, that is your duty to God; think right, that is your duty to yourself; and you are bound to come out right.
“That is exactly right. You do right, and then think right, and as long as you are going right, you can’t be going wrong.”
Joshua’s success depended on the meditation of his mind.
The Book of the Law did not depart from his mind and lips.
In Joshua 1:8, the Bible says: “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
Trust Maanda is a Gospel preacher and transformational speaker. He writes in his personal capacity. He can be contacted on +263772432646.
