Think On These Things....

"Don't waste your time and energy to erase your mistakes of past. Make up your mind to erase your thinking that you can't correct it in present."  I read this quote online this morning and thought I'd share my own thoughts about it.

We all make mistakes.  Romans 3:23 says that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  That means that everyone is going to make mistakes and fall short of what He wants us to be.  Be we are rendered to righteousness by His grace through the redemption that is in Jesus name. 

But, even though we know this, we often spend too much time telling ourselves we can't correct our mistakes that are in the past.  Concerning ourselves too much with what others think of us because of those mistakes.  When all it takes it is changing the way we think and how we conduct ourselves. 

I was discussing this with my kids the other day. The rule of thumb for our thinking should be as it says in 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."  

So, to sum it up, our thinking should dwell on things that are:

• true - things that are truthful and speak truths.
• honest - things that are deserving of honor and respect.
• just - things that are upright, righteous, observing divine principles.
• pure - things that are chaste, modest and pure from carnality.
• lovely - things that are acceptable and pleasing to Him.
• good report - things that speak hope and happiness
• virtue - things that conform to an acceptable standard of right and wrong according to the Word of God. 
• praise - things that glorify, bless and magnify Him.

Philippians 4:8 ends with the sentence, "think on these things".  The Greek lexicon defines think as follows:  1. to reckon, count, compute, calculate, count over;  2. to take into account;  3. to determine, purpose and decide.   This means that we do not just passively think about these things.  But we actively think one these things.  Allow them to effectively operational in our lives.  Calculate how thinking in that manner can impact your life.  And, then determine and purpose that you will began to change your thought patterns.  When you are actively thinking along those lines, you began to see changes in how you react to various situation.  You will seen what a difference it will make in your life.  And when things are making a difference in our own lives, we can make a difference in the lives of others.

~Lord, help remember to change my thought patterns.  My mistakes of the past are under the blood and I can change my thinking today to help me go forward.  Help me to actively think on things that are true, honest, just, lovely, of good report, have virtue and are praiseworthy.  Thank you for inspiring me and helping me go from day to day. I give you all the glory, honor and praise for this day.  You are a awesome and mighty God.