Thought filter for today

Reading assignment is Philippians chapter 4. What good is there in it?

Bulls eye: (v.7) the peace of God provides a safe-keeping for our hearts and minds. (I need help for inner stability and a mind that can keep a focus on what's important, as well as the ability to filter out thoughts that are counterproductive and even destructive.)

Thought filter: (v.8) The thought filter enables us to hit the bulls eye. The new nature wants to think on things listed here. The old nature resists this list and insists on doing the opposite! Since Christ's new nature has defeated the power of sin and all its thought patterns, it leaves the obvious result that this list is entirely do-able! I cannot decide to just think these things, but He does, and therefore, so I can. I suppose that it is like a skill that needs to be practiced. But if He wants it for us and has told us to do it, then it must be possible! Here they are:

Choose to concentrate on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, things of virtue, things that are praise-worthy. A quick inventory today showed me how skilled I am at doing the very opposite of each of these! Grateful for the Good News. . . .

These 8 "tools" provide the protective grid for our conversations and thoughts, and also guard our hearts so that we can successfully bring under control all of our responses. This is impossible unless He controls the heart and the tongue. Thankfully, that is exactly what He and only He can do, and He has invited us to see Him do this filtering in us. And He is able to show us that it works. I hate to say bring it on, but our peace and security depend on this filter. So, the negative attacks so that the filter of the positive can deflect it. We shall see how this works!