What are You Allowing In?

The last post in the series on Philippians 4:4-8. You can read the other parts here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4


"Finally, bothers 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)

Paul is emphasizing the importance of what we fill our minds with. We need to pay attention to what we're thinking about because it is a reflection of what we're filling our minds with.

The standards Paul gives for what we fill our minds with our high. And they are high for a reason.

We don't want to allow anything in that opens a door for Satan to get a foothold in our minds and hearts.

These standards that Paul gives for what we think about are the things that are the guard God's peace put around our minds and hearts.

It is important to evaluate things before we allow them in.

• Is this the truth that I'm allowing in?
• Is this something with quality that I'm allowing in?
• Is this pure according to God's standards?
• Is this lovely according to God's standards?
• Is this something admirable according to God's standards?
• Is this in line with God's standards for excellence?
• Is this praiseworthy according to God's standards?

If the answer to any of these questions is "no" then maybe we need to re-evaluate why we're allowing it into our minds and hearts.

Are You Filled With God's Peace?

Part 4 in a series on Philippians 4:4-8. You can read the remaining parts here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.


"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)

This verse is also one I'll look at in a couple of sections.

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding . . ."

God's peace is given to us. It replaces the anxious thoughts we give over to God in prayer (see last post in the series). God offers His peace to us.

We may not always understand God's peace. If fact, we often don't. We can have God's peace in the midst of circumstances that should cause us anything but peace. But that is what God offers when we take our anxious thoughts to Him in prayer.

". . . will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

God's peace guards our hearts and minds. It protects us from the anxious thoughts coming back. When we are filled with God's peace, it forms a guard around our heart and our mind to keep things that would steal that peace.

All of this happens as we are in Christ Jesus. If we're not in Christ, we won't receive God's peace.

 

 

Have you accepted the peace God offers to you?

 

Are you remaining in Christ?

Are You Praying?

This is the third part in a series on Philippians 4:4-8. You can read part 1 here and part 2 here.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Philippians 4:5)

I think with this verse it will be easiest to take it section by section.

"Do not be anxious about anything . . ."

Paul is talking about the same thing here that Jesus taught about in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:25-34 - the futility of worrying about things. We're not really living if we're worrying or anxious about things. And we have no reason to be.

". . . but in every situation . . ."

There's no situation excluded from what Paul is talking about here. It covers everything.

". . . by prayer and petition . . ."

Prayer is talking to God. Petition is asking of God. Both are important in our relationship with God. He wants us to communicate with Him.

". . . with thanksgiving . . ."

Thankfulness should be a regular part of our lives. No matter what we're facing in life, we can be looking for things to be thankful for. Being thankful changes our perspective on things.

". . . present your requests to God."

This is Paul's answer for how we can avoid being anxious and worrying about everything. We can take all of those things to God and leave them in His hands. God invites us to bring those things to Him.

Are you worrying about things?

 

Are you taking every situation to God?

 

Are you looking for things you can be thankful for?

 

Are you taking everything to God in prayer?