Think Right, Do Right, Feel Right

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Good morning Zebras,

Today’s verse is one I often reference when speaking to women. Women have very active brains, we are always thinking about something, so it is important to know what we are supposed to think about. And this verse tells us.

One of the best things I think you can do for a friend who is ranting about some situation is to simply ask “Is that true?” Taking our thoughts captive to the truth of God’s Word is the first step in growing in Christian maturity.

Recently I heard this verse and the verse that follows: Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. summarized as Think Right, Do Right, Feel Right. And the more I think about it the more I like it.

What we think affects what we do and what we do definitely affects how we feel.

For example, if we think serving God is a privilege because God doesn’t really need us to get His work done we will be honored that He chose us and serve with joy. But if we think that we are doing God a big favor by helping him out, we tend to serve with arrogance and pride.

Or if we think that God owes us something, anything, even life, we tend to be ungrateful and demand more. But if we realize that God does not owe us anything, that every breath we take is only because of God’s grace, our attitude changes.

And then there is our time and our money, given to us by God to be used for His glory. Hording either doesn’t make you feel good.

One of my life lessons is the story out of Genesis where Cain comes to God all mopey and depressed. He is sad because God did not like his offering as well as He liked his brother’s. Look at God’s response. “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?"

Basically, Cain, you did wrong, you know it and now you feel bad and you won’t feel better until you change the way you are acting.

Many Christians want to believe they can live with one foot in the world and one foot with God, but that is not Biblical. That is American. We want our “cake and eat it too.” We want to live our livf however we want AND we want the blessings and peace of God. But it doesn’t work that way. The Bible says we have to let go of one to get the other and whether we acknowledge it or not, inherently we know it is true.

Love,
Jill