Worthy of praise

Yesterday, I had the start of a spiral. I was driving to the bank and tried to send a spoken text (complaining) to a friend and it didn’t go through. I was thinking of this and that. Then a whisper, what have you been writing? And I began to pray through it, acknowledging my worry, but then replacing the worry. Reminding myself of what I know to be true. It changed things in my mind. I chose differently and when I got home I checked my phone, the text never went through. Haha.

I never completed Philippians 4. Let’s do it. Complete it. Let me share the verses one more time.

“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

8 things on which to rest our minds, this final one wraps up all the rest. True, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent thoughts all bring praise to our God. This will transform our behavior. I almost want a tattoo to remind me! This. This is what I know to be true.

Something that strikes me over and over are the transformations we see in the word of God. The apostles before the death of Jesus are people trying to grasp who was in their midst. Trying to understand. Tons of questions. The apostles AFTER his resurrection are people solidly grounded, teaching, healing. Paul, before the road to Damascus, was described in Acts 8 as a beast, cruel and heartless. Paul AFTER? No one can believe it.

This teaches my heart today. The transformative power of the presence of God moving in our lives can be seen by those around us. Even when things just don’t make sense. When circumstances are not shaping the way we hoped. Life isn’t easy. Paul’s words here still teach.

When doors close, when doctors don’t listen…I still have hope. God hasn’t moved. I choose to dwell, move my mind to the truth.