Latest / Kate’s Devotional Podcast / How to Make Your Life Better Using Philippians 4:8

Transcript

How to Make Your Life Better Using Philippians 4:8 · Kate’s Devotional Podcast

• 0:02
  SPEAKER_00: Kate Dreston here.
• 0:04
  SPEAKER_00: Our minds are a spiritual battlefield every day.
• 0:07
  SPEAKER_00: Who's winning your battle?
• 0:09
  SPEAKER_00: Our mindset is everything.
• 0:12
  SPEAKER_00: Did you know the Bible tells us exactly how to manage our thoughts?
• 0:16
  SPEAKER_00: In this five-minute episode,
• 0:18
  SPEAKER_00: I'm going to list the seven things the Bible tells us to do, so stay tuned.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_00: Hi, guys.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_00: I said our minds are a battlefield, and that's exactly what they are.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_00: I think we all have days when our thoughts conquer the darkness,
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_00: but then we all have days where we struggle and the darkness creeps in anyway.
• 0:37
  SPEAKER_00: When we're in the right headspace, we feel so much more hope and happiness.
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_00: And on those days when our thoughts aren't in a good place,
• 0:47
  SPEAKER_00: we just feel more anxious and defeated, right?
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_00: But as always, we find the answer in the Bible.
• 0:54
  SPEAKER_00: So on this subject, it gives us seven really clear instructions.
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_00: And we find that answer in Philippians 4.8.
• 1:02
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm going to read that out of the NLT version.
• 1:05
  SPEAKER_00: It says,
• 1:06
  SPEAKER_00: "Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right and pure and lovely
• 1:11
  SPEAKER_00: and admirable.
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_00: Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_00: So there you have it.
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_00: Let's take it one at a time.
• 1:20
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, number one, we need to think on whatever is true.
• 1:24
  SPEAKER_00: God is truth.
• 1:25
  SPEAKER_00: The Bible is truth.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_00: Everything we think needs to align with Scripture.
• 1:31
  SPEAKER_00: And truth isn't easy to find these days.
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_00: 2 Timothy 3 warned us that in the last days,
• 1:37
  SPEAKER_00: evil will be called good and good will be called evil.
• 1:40
  SPEAKER_00: And that's exactly what we have.
• 1:42
  SPEAKER_00: So what's a person to do?
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_00: Well, Christians have the Holy Spirit and He's going to help us discern to know truth.
• 1:50
  SPEAKER_00: Number two, think on whatever is honorable.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_00: Christians have a higher standard.
• 1:56
  SPEAKER_00: I'm sure you've noticed the entertainment industry always goes for
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_00: the cheap joke that's going to send your mind right to the gutter.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_00: We can do better.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_00: We can do better by rejecting that kind of humor.
• 2:07
  SPEAKER_00: We can be strong and not compromise by watching any kind of media that's ungodly.
• 2:13
  SPEAKER_00: Number three, our minds need to focus on whatever is right.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_00: We must define our moral compasses by scripture because that is truth.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_00: Our minds need to be wise in our thought life.
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_00: And again, the Holy Spirit helps supply that wisdom.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_00: We shouldn't be spending time thinking about sinful things or lustful thoughts
• 2:35
  SPEAKER_00: and how we can get as close to the line of sin without going over it.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_00: Because we want to stay far away from it.
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_00: 4.
• 2:45
  SPEAKER_00: Think on whatever is pure.
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_00: We should strive to be drawn to what is morally clean and upright.
• 2:53
  SPEAKER_00: The Bible tells us to guard our hearts,
• 2:55
  SPEAKER_00: so we need to refuse the filth that the world uses to entice us.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_00: 5.
• 3:02
  SPEAKER_00: Fill our minds with whatever is lovely.
• 3:05
  SPEAKER_00: We need to focus on what points our souls to God, right?
• 3:09
  SPEAKER_00: There are lovely things all around us,
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_00: uplifting music,
• 3:13
  SPEAKER_00: the majesty of nature,
• 3:15
  SPEAKER_00: acts of kindness,
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_00: encouraging books, or watching the types of media that promote Christian values.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_00: It's all still around us if we look for it.
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_00: 6.
• 3:27
  SPEAKER_00: Whatever is admirable.
• 3:29
  SPEAKER_00: Think on these things.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_00: So let's spend our time in a mindset that encourages us to be more like Christ.
• 3:37
  SPEAKER_00: We should want to avoid anything that might lead us into sin.
• 3:41
  SPEAKER_00: We have to be diligent in keeping our minds in check.
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_00: And lastly, number seven, think on whatever is excellent and worthy of praise.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_00: We are to develop a character that reflects God's standards.
• 3:57
  SPEAKER_00: We need to be mindful of refining our thoughts so we reflect God's overall moral excellence.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_00: So let's make a distinctive effort today to focus on the right things
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_00: and let our mindset dwell on Him.
• 4:13
  SPEAKER_00: Because I'm going to be doing the same.
• 4:16
  SPEAKER_00: If you'd like more of my one-minute devotionals or my five-minute podcasts,
• 4:20
  SPEAKER_00: you can check out my free Substack account at katedreston.substack.com.
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_00: And Dreston is spelled D-R-E-S-T-O-N. Make it a great day.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_00: And thanks for listening.
• 4:33
  [music]