As You Think
A lot of what we know about the human psyche and soul is not new. A great deal of it was known intuitively for generations. We just think we have been able to give new insights, when in reality others have done so for millenia.

Take the idea of giving ourselves "affirmations." You know- those cute little sayings that you tell yourself while looking in the mirror. Things like "I am worthy" or "I am lovable" or whatever. Well, variations on that have been around a long time. As one thinks, so one is. Think well of oneself (in appropriate ways) and one cannot help but improve. Think badly of oneself (in inappropriate ways) and one acts out in bad ways.

So it should come to no surprise that at the end of the letter to the Philippians, Paul gives them some advice that fits. Here from Philippians 4:8:

...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.

But Paul isn't interested in us giving ourselves affirmations about ourselves. He wants us to think about things like this as a way of discovering and then living these things. First, though, we have to look at the word think. According to the Blue Letter Bible Greek information the original means among other things:

1. to reckon, count, compute, calculate, count over;
2. by reckoning up all the reasons, to gather or infer;
3. to consider, take into account, weigh, meditate on.

I found it interesting that the meanings had first and foremost to deal with reality. It is not unlike taking an inventory of the things in and around our lives- or perhaps the things of God- or perhaps the things that we have experienced. There is at first an accountant's style and approach. Make a list of the good and beautiful and holy and think about them. Consider the ways of Gods love and grace and what is good and true and right. Ponder them.

But then there's that word- meditate.

It is more than a legal or accounting-style listing and adding up. It is more than some intellectual exercise. It can also be deeper and more profound than that. It can be life-changing. To bring into our minds and meditate upon the just and honorable and praiseworthy is to give opening to the ways of God. To bring into our minds and meditate upon the unjust and dishonorable is to give opening to evil and the Evil One.

Daily meditation- readings of Scripture, reading "spiritual" writings, considering the beauty of life and things to be grateful for- can open us up to newer and better ways of thinking.

We may not have the ability to stop the "first thoughts" of ugliness or fear or evil, but we don't have to allow those things to have a "second thought." The more we meditate upon the ways of God and God's beauty and grace, the more filled with God's beauty and God's grace our lives will be.

So here they are again ponder upon the things that are:

• true
• noble
• right
• pure
• lovely
• admirable
• excellent
• praiseworthy.

Your life with God is worth it.