“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.”
Philippians 4:8
Third on the thinking list is right.
Right.
Reminds me of marking tests. Let’s say for the sake of argument that they are math tests. Math is simple to mark – it’s either right, or wrong.
Cut and dried.
So – how would we train our brains to think ‘right’?
How do we know if our thoughts are ‘correct’? How do we know when we are right in the head? I mean, if our thinking is off, our attitudes and behaviour will follow suit. Wrong thoughts = wrong responses to life. That super charged computer up there needs to be programmed properly – or it will go a little haywire.
Not a desired outcome.
Is there a manual or something? An answer key?
Anything?
The Bible holds a lot of principles that could help us out.
A lot.
It spells out who God is – and isn’t. And in relation to Him, who we are – and aren’t. It speaks of our purpose. It shows us how to relate to God and one another in healthy ways.
It gives direction when we are overwhelmed by strong emotions. It gives encouragement and ‘pep talks’ when we are down. It teaches us truth.
In other words, a basic prescription for becoming right in the head.
The heart will follow if the head gets it.
I’d sure like my thoughts to be true, and honourable, and right.
Maybe I’d better hit that training manual a little harder… I’ve got a long way to go if I’m going to pass the test.
Use the Bible more effectively as a thinking training tool with me?
Father, You have given us so many principles for living well – and these include keeping our thoughts trained in directions they were designed to go – exploring good, upright, true, and right pathways. Bless our efforts in this new discipline! Amen.
Growing in Grace 