The morning began like every other morning—my mind was racing and spinning before my feet hit the ground. It wasn’t that I dreaded my job; I was stuck in a place of fear and darkness that covered my world with sadness and despair. In fact, I loved my job, the work I did, and the effort I had poured into it for several years. Deep down, I had confidence that I performed well and was on track to be promoted. But all of that became a distant memory—a feeling that started to grow increasingly unfamiliar. I had allowed the lies and the darkness to dim the light inside me, threatening to put it out altogether.
Philippians 4:8 has been nudging at me for a while. It wants me to notice it, dwell on it, take it to heart, and share its impact. Paul writes,
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
To put it into context, Paul is writing from a prison cell—not exactly the most glamorous or exciting place to be. He was a missionary who devoted his life to spreading the good news of Jesus Christ, no matter the risks and dangers he faced along the way. And he was no stranger to peril. He was thrown into prison numerous times, shipwrecked more than once, endured constant ridicule and humiliation—yet he encouraged us to have good thoughts.
If we look at the few verses before, it’s even more mind-blowing that someone like him could have this type of otherworldly perspective. Verses 4–7 say:
“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
Reading these verses alone, you might think he was speaking impossibly. But verse 8 shows us how we are to think so that we can rejoice and not worry.
Our thoughts are powerful—so powerful that everything we believe about ourselves starts with them. If you tell yourself enough times that you will fail, you probably will. The opposite is also true. Henry Ford famously said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t—you’re right.” Our thoughts not only affect our inner beliefs but also how we carry ourselves, the attitude we have with our family, the way we perceive others, and even how we see God Himself.
Eight Filters for a Christ-Centered Mind
- True — Who does God say I am versus what the world says or what I tell myself?
“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9 NLT)
- Honorable — Our thoughts must be respectable and filled with integrity.
“People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed.” (Proverbs 10:9 NLT)
- Right — Align your thinking with God’s character and commands.
“Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor.” (Proverbs 21:21 NLT)
- Pure — Guard your mind from impure thoughts and improper behavior.
“God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.” (Matthew 5:8 NLT)
- Lovely — Notice and dwell on the beauty of God’s creation and favor.
“Then God looked over all He had made, and He saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:31 NLT)
- Admirable — Praise and honor the qualities that bring God glory.
“And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” (Colossians 3:17 NLT)
- Excellent — Do your best in whatever you do, all for the glory of God.
“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.” (Colossians 3:23–24 NLT)
- Praiseworthy — Train your mind to see and focus on God’s goodness.
“Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure His greatness.” (Psalm 145:3 NLT)
Changing Our Thoughts
- See your thoughts through a Philippians 4:8 lens. Are they true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy?
- Redirect negative thoughts to focus on the positive.
- Pause and breathe when your mind begins to race.
- Pray.
What this leads to is a heart focused more on gratitude, peace, and being rooted in God’s truth.
