Day 101 · Week 15
Passage: Philippians 4:8; Romans 13:14
Memory Verse: Psalm 51:10
Philippians 4:8 (KJV)
“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.”
Purity is not only about saying no to wrong thoughts. It is also about giving the mind something better.
Paul tells Christians what kinds of things deserve their attention: what is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, virtuous, and worthy of praise.
Our minds are shaped by what we repeatedly feed them.
If we constantly consume entertainment that makes immorality amusing, cruelty normal, or selfishness attractive, we should not be surprised when those ideas become easier to entertain in our thoughts.
The opposite is also true.
Scripture, wholesome conversation, good music, useful work, time in God's creation, and stories that honor courage, faithfulness, sacrifice, and truth can strengthen healthier patterns of thought.
This does not mean Christians can only think about explicitly religious subjects. God's world contains much that is beautiful, interesting, funny, creative, and worth learning.
The question is whether what we repeatedly place before our minds is helping us love what is good.
We cannot prevent every unwanted thought from entering. But we can choose whether to give it a chair, serve it dinner, and invite it to stay.
What are some things your family enjoys that fit Paul's description in Philippians 4:8?
Replace some time you would normally spend consuming media with something that fills your mind with what is good.
Ask God to shape your family's appetites so that you increasingly enjoy things that strengthen truth, purity, gratitude, and love.