If anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. —Philippians 4:8

Click Here to Read Today's Scripture: Philippians 4:6-8

Have you ever noticed someone staring into space with a blank, far-off look on their face? Or maybe that was you, lost deep in thought, caught up in another time, another place. I remember getting in trouble in school as a boy when my teacher would catch me looking out the window of the classroom, daydreaming. 

What is your favorite daydream? I have some that need no prompting: when I sit down and relax my mind just goes there.  Sometimes these thoughts are triggered by something we see or hear, or some other sensation.  We may be reminiscing about a favorite time, place, or person, then those memories take us further back to other experiences.  And sometimes, like making up an alternative ending to a movie, we think about how things could have been.

We get to choose what we think about, however. What we put our minds to—where we go in our thoughts. If we don’t take control of our daydreams, they can take us places we don’t want to go. While daydreams can be used by the Holy Spirit to prompt us (for example, reminding us of someone we need to pray for), daydreams can also be used by the enemy of our souls, the devil, to distract us from the things of God and focus our attention on sinful things.  We are encouraged in Philippians 4:6-7 to take those things we have in our hearts and minds and give them to the LORD in prayer; then we can be assured of having the peace of mind God intends for us. 

Trying to stop thinking of improper or harmful things doesn’t usually work. We need to replace those with thoughts that please God. Ultimately, we are given a clear guideline for what we are to fix our minds on, what we are to think about, what we should spend our time daydreaming about. "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things" (Philippians 4:8 [emphasis added]). 

Reflection: Do you sometimes find your mind going places you know are harmful? What are some true, just, pure, and lovely things you can meditate on to fill your mind?

Prayer Starter:

Lord, I acknowledge my mind sometimes dwells on the wrong things.  Please help me think and see those things as You see them. Help me, LORD to fill my mind with things pleasing to you. Please give me your dreams and visions for what can be by Your power working in and through me.

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