Jacey Verdicchio - A Children's Author

In my recent time in God’s Word, I keep coming back to Philippians 4:8 to reflect on its simplicity and wisdom.

Here is the verse from the NASB:

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

I did the simple of exercise of considering the opposite of each word, with the help of a thesaurus.  Maybe it’s obvious that if God gives this list as things we should dwell on, think, or consider, then the opposite would not be of value.  See what comes to mind when you read the opposite:

Whatever is false, whatever is dishonorable or dishonest, whatever is wrong, whatever is ungenuine or impure, whatever is disagreeable, whatever is of negative report, if there be any mediocrity or inferiority, if there be any criticism, DO NOT consider these things.

God chose to tell us what TO think about because it's more effective than saying, "DON'T think on these things."   It’s impossible not to picture a snow cone if I say, “Don’t think about snow cones.”  I’ll end this post with the Scripture again so you can get the right stuff in your head.  But consider just for a moment the time wasted on considering the opposites.  Does that change what you will read or watch, or the conversations you might have today?  It does for me.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.