Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8 KJV
Context and Charge:
No matter the dispensation or generation, there is a truth that governs all of life, and it is there is power in our thoughts. The mind and the heart are intertwined in the final output that our lives produce. No matter how minute or how great the output is, you can trace it back to the seed that was sown as thought. A lot of the terrible, as well as the amazing things we see today, do not happen without a cause or a foundation. It is very important then to settle the matter of the foundations of my life today: what forms the seeds of my thought life? If I were to be fed with the consequences of my thoughts and actions, would I look forward to the meal? The spiritual is equally important; adultery starts from the hidden thoughts of a man's heart, so it is therefore important that I guard my heart diligently.
The verse above describes the things I must focus on. What I focus on grows, whether good or bad. Every seed bears in it the capacity to grow and bear fruit after its kind. It will then matter in which kind of ground it is sown, and whether all the conditions that are conducive for growth have been supplied around the seed. Check out all the things I am told to focus on and you will find the nature of God in all of them. It seems that the verse is asking me to make God the sole focus of my life. It then means that I cannot force my life to produce anything like what is described in the verse above without the help of the One who is all I need. He will not only supply the nutrients required, but He will also provide the support, shade and strength I need to stand well, and to last long. Is God the One holding me up?
Conviction and Conclusion:
I can pretend for a season, or fool a lot of people for quite some time, but because the evidence of fruit cannot be denied or ignored, my life will eventually reveal the truth behind its focus, pursuits and priorities. Thoughts lead to actions; actions are the bedrock of habits, and habits are the building blocks of character, and as we know, character is the foundation of destiny. We may judge men based on what we see them do, but in the real sense, God judges the intentions and motives of our hearts because He knows these are the most important parts of our lives. As I face the world, in its present state of confusion and calamity, I must make up my mind about what is really important. I cannot make assumptions about where I am, what I should do, or where I am headed. I must be deliberate; lives are actually impacted much more by why I do what I do than what I actually do. May God help my walk with and work for Him to be right. God's time of favour is here.
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