Think on the “Good Stuff”
PHILIPPIANS 4: 1-23
(October 3)
Have you ever had an argument with someone you served the Lord with? Someone in your church, or on your ministry team, or in your Sunday School class?
Trust me when I tell you ... it is not a fun place to be. It is frustrating, heartbreaking, and causes numerous problems within the church family.
Euodia and Syntyche are having a disagreement. They have been partners in spreading the gospel, but now they find themselves at odds. Paul is pleading with them to settle their dispute before it does irreparable harm to the church.
He reminds them and the rest of the church to always have joy in their hearts. He hopes they will rejoice in all things and be considerate of others in all things. Why? Because it is the right thing to do. But if that isn't enough of a reason... he reminds them that the Lord is coming soon!
Then he adds that they shouldn't spend their time worrying about things, but instead, should spend that time praying to God, offering up your needs and your thanks for all his goodness. When you do this, you will experience the peace that "exceeds anything we can understand" and that peace "will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."
And then he gets to the REALLY GOOD PART, my FAVORITE scripture ... "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." (Philippians 4:8)
That is a long scripture, so I often like to paraphrase it as this: "Think on the GOOD STUFF!" I use this scripture often, when I find my mind and my thoughts starting to go down a negative path, I remind myself to turn my thoughts towards the good stuff.
What is the good stuff? It can be something different every time. It is whatever makes us happy, joyful, full of praise, and honoring of God. Perhaps it is appreciating the beauty of the flowers and trees, or the song of a bird. Maybe it is looking at the family gathered around you and feeling deep gratitude. Maybe it is smiling as you remember something funny a friend said.
Whatever your "GOOD STUFF" looks like, use it. It is the perfect weapon against the enemy, who would like nothing more than to have you cast your thoughts into his pit of darkness and evil, keep you fixated on your anger, or have you feeling doubt and fear.
That "GOOD STUFF" keeps us on the right track, headed to Jesus. Even when you have to make sacrifices like the ones Paul speaks of as he continues in his letter. He has learned how to do without and make it just fine. He has learned how to get by when his stomach is growling for a morsel of food, and when it is stuffed. He is content, whatever his situation, because he knows that he can get through it all simply by relying on Christ to give him strength.
Sometimes we get into situations where we have to do without something we want. Often it is the little things in life like a new blouse or a pair of shoes. Sometimes it is a little more than that. And there are also times when we are having to do without something major in our lives, like a spouse, or a baby, or a job that pays enough to get by on. That is when we need to turn our thoughts to the GOOD STUFF and put our focus on Jesus, because it is his strength that will see us through.
We are never without when we have Christ. He is sufficient. He is all we need.