Whatsoever Things are True

What change, what victory could happen in my life if I had just one verse that I focused on and lived out every day—for a year? I’m about to find out. My verse for the year is Phil 4:8. This is an action verse, and it’s one I need.  

Phil 4:8 is a list of “approved” thoughts to dwell on as one way to keep me from being anxious. (The other way to keep from being anxious is in the 2 verses ahead of verse 8. You should read them.)

Will you go on the Phil. 4:8 journey with me? It would probably be a good idea to examine each of the thought types listed to capture as much meaning from them as possible. So, we will do that. But also, memorizing it is a grand idea, so that when our Bibles aren’t right in front of us, we still have the wisdom of what to do with our minds.

Here we go with the first approved thought:

Whatsoever things are true…think on these things.

What is truth? Jesus is true and “the truth” (Matt 22:16, John 14:6); God is true (John 3:33, Rom 3:4); the anointing we received when we got saved is true (1 John 2:27); and God’s word is true and the truth.

So when I’m told to think on whatsoever things are true, I can think about God and all that He is and does, and thank Him for it while I’m thinking about it. I can think about Jesus and all He did and still does (He’s my intercessor at the right hand of God right now, Heb. 7:25). I can think about the Spirit who helps me know and understand the truth (1 Cor. 2:10).

When you were growing up, did your parents ever tell you they were going to wash your mouth out with soap for saying something inappropriate?

As a loving parent, God has a similar, but more palatable, idea for washing our minds before we spout ugliness. He does it with the water of His word.

Here are some soul-cleansing swigs about the truth of God’s word:

♦“Sanctify (consecrate or make holy) them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17)

♦“…Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,” (Eph. 5:25b-26)

♦“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.” (Psa. 119:9)

While we consider thinking on “whatsoever things are true,” we should understand that this involves corralling random thoughts that float to the surface and comparing them with truth. It also involves our “dwelling” thoughts—or those we muse over. They also need to be captured and held up to the “whatsoever things are true” standard.

Some of the things we ponder are untrue imaginings, and we know what God says about those:

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5).

And finally, if we want to be overcomers, we have to think on the truth. It’s partly how we get victory in our spiritual battles.

 “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth” (Eph. 6:13-14a).

You probably already know all this, but let’s practice it together. Today and tomorrow let’s hold up our thoughts to the truth we know and turn our minds around wherever we need to. It will make us different people.

Tell me what you think.

Jody