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. 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. (Philippians 4:8-9 NLT)
Last week a friend and I were having a conversation that, in part, was about the struggles, worries, and fears we were each dealing with. At the end of the conversation we came back to this verse. Usually, I focus on that list of things to think about: things that are true, noble, authentic, excellent, lovely, etc. But when I reread the verse I was caught by the “FIX” at the beginning of the NLT. FIX your thoughts. Don’t let them get distracted or led astray. FIX your thoughts on that which is of God. Then you (I/we) won’t have to fight evil’s barbs; when we are focused on God it’s easy to discern what is not of God.
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. (Deut. 11:18 NIV)
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith… (Heb. 12:2 NIV)
But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign LORD;
in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death. (Ps. 141:8 NIV)
in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death. (Ps. 141:8 NIV)
And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him. (“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” by Martin Luther)
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him. (“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” by Martin Luther)
Creator of the Universe, Fixer of our Salvation, Spirit of Life, we praise you for who you are. You are Light, Abundant Life, Peace, Joy, and Wisdom. You are far more than we can understand, yet we know we are precious and beloved children of yours. Thank you for offering us the gift of your grace in Jesus Christ and the Abundant Life lived through the Spirit’s power. Thank you for the tools we need to fight the fears, worries, and struggles of this life and to fight against your enemy. Give us wisdom, give us courage, give us strength for the facing of this hour and these trials. Help us to FIX our thoughts and our actions on that which is honorable to you. Help our minds be filled with things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious; the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse; things honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable; things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Fix our eyes on Jesus and your Word in our souls. Make us more like Jesus as he works us into his most excellent harmonies. In the strong name of Christ we pray. Amen.
I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. (Philippians 4:8-9 MSG)