We were reminded in the weekend message that the things we focus our hearts and minds on significantly impact us. There is no other way around it. For example, if we spend all of our free time watching and focusing on television, we will continuously talk about our favorite shows. We may even start acting like some of our favorite characters. While these things are not necessarily bad, there is something far better to focus our minds and hearts on: Christ and His kingdom. When Christ and His kingdom are our focus, speaking about Him and His kingdom becomes a habit without us even realizing it.
The author of Proverbs 34 understood the impact of our thoughts. In this passage of Scripture, he wrote, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (verse 7, KJV). This statement is simple yet profound. We are so deeply impacted by our thoughts and the things we meditate on that we cannot help but talk about the things occupying our hearts and minds.
Because the things we meditate on can profoundly impact our words and actions, we must be purposeful about what we think about. We must focus on Christ and His kingdom. Paul says it this way in Philippians 4:18: “Fix your eyes on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise" (verse 8). These things, the things of God that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable, deserve all of our focus and attention. When we focus on these things, we also continually talk about them. We begin to reflect Christ through our words and actions. Even more, Paul promises that when you think about these things, “the God of peace will be with you.”
It is time that we all take the things we set our hearts and minds on seriously. Will we focus on this world and the things of this world, or will we focus on Christ and His kingdom? Only one of those paths leads to peace. Will you focus on Christ and His kingdom today?
Spend more time than usual today focusing on Christ by lingering in your Scripture reading. Read the verses in the Going Deeper section three times. After you read, pick a verse from that passage of Scripture to memorize. Let your time dwelling in God’s word today carry you through your day.
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work.
2 Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. 3 And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.
4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
8 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. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
10 How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. 11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. 14 Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.
15 As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. 16 Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. 17 I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.
18 At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
20 Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen.
21 Give my greetings to each of God’s holy people—all who belong to Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you their greetings. 22 And all the rest of God’s people send you greetings, too, especially those in Caesar’s household.
23 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
