Whatever Is True – Think About These Things

Whatever is true? Are there times when you really don’t know what to think? Do you struggle with keeping your thoughts away from discouraging things?

Satan constantly attempts to use the inappropriate actions of others to sidetrack us from pursuing God’s direction by keeping us overwhelmed, discouraged, and angry. The choice is ours to decide if we will allow Satan to distract us with his ploys or if we will focus on God’s truth. When godliness is missing from the actions that impact us, we must believe that the actions will still accomplish God’s purposes. This belief in God’s sovereignty allows us to praise and live within the guidelines of Philippians 4: 4–9.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 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: 4–9 ESV

Understand Life from God’s Perspective

Paul intended that the Christians at Philippi would have an intimate connection with God’s heart and walk with Him along the path of truth. Following God leads us to accomplish His will. God’s eternal perspective has considered all infinite potentials that result in our best interest and His ultimate glory to direct us to fulfill His purposes. Therefore, thinking whatever is true necessitates thinking beyond ourselves to develop a new understanding of life from God’s perspective – a life that fulfills His purposes.

The ultimate best for our lives is only attained as we abide in God who is true.

He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true.

John 3:33 NASB

Pretensive promises of truth that are apart from God will fail.

Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written,
“That you may be justified in your words,
and prevail when you are judged.”

Romans 3:4 ESV

How Can We Know Truth?

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6 ESV

Knowing God establishes the ability to know truth. Only by His authoritative standard may we determine whatever is true. Only when viewing life from God’s perspective may we truly see reality. Based on our own perceptions and feelings, we settle for a tainted view of life and a skewed version of the truth. We see a life filled with overwhelming discouragement and anger through our distorted lens of reality. But living in God’s truth, we may rise above the heaviness to follow His best path.

Prayer Pattern to Think About Whatever Is True

God, You are light. These is no darkness in You at all. I know that I cannot share life with You but still walk in darkness. I would be lying. I would not be living by the truth. But as I walk in the light, just as You are in the light, then I share life with others. The blood of Jesus, Your Son, makes me pure from all sin. Don’t let me fool myself by claiming to be without sin. That is not true. But You are faithful and fair. I admit I have sinned. Thank You for forgiving my sins and every wrong thing I have done. Thank You for making me pure. . . .

1 John 1:5–9

This blog post is part of a series on Philippians 4:8. Dig into each description to determine how to think about these things from God’s perspective.

• Think About These Things from God’s Perspective
• Whatever Is Honorable – Think About These Things
• Whatever Is Right – Think About These Things
• Whatever Is Pure – Think About These Things
• Whatever Is Lovely – Think About These Things
• Whatever Is Admirable – Think About These Things
• Whatever Is Excellent – Think About These Things
• Whatever Is Praiseworthy – Think About These Things

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