Fact Check Your Thought Life

About two weeks ago, I was reading Kenneth E Hagin’s book, “The Triumphant Church”.

If you know me, outside of my Bible, I don’t read a lot of books. I used to. I used to read a lot of biographies/auto-biographies. I like learning what makes people tick and biographies are a great way to do that. These days, I just people watch. 🙂

Anyway, as I was reading I came across Philippians 4:8 which says (in the NIV), “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.”

I wrote it out in my notebook, but with a twist: 

• Whatever is – TRUE
• Whatever is – NOBLE
• Whatever is – RIGHT
• Whatever is – PURE
• Whatever is – LOVELY
• Whatever is – ADMIRABLE
• Whatever is – EXCELLENT
• Whatever is – PRAISEWORTHY

THINK ON SUCH THINGS. Wow! As I’m typing this out now, “Whatever is” is leaping off the page at me. There is a deeper revelation there, but that’s for another day. For now….THINK ON SUCH THINGS? What things?

SUCH THINGS that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy.

* 

We Christians often wonder if we’re actually hearing God speak to us. We often wonder if a choice we are about to make is the right one. We often wonder if the thoughts we have line up with the Bible. We often wonder if we’re doing things the right way.

Read Philippians 4:8 again – 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.

I paused and thought about that for a minute. And then I took a deep breath. I wanted more. I wanted more from the Lord. I wanted more explanation, so I asked Him for another Scripture. I wanted another Bible verse to not only support this verse, but something to guide this way of thinking.

God led me to 2 Corinthians 10:5 in the King James Version:

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Yup. Casting down imaginations has to do with what we think. If we are thinking on such things as in Philippians 4:8, then we are “casting down imaginations”. But if we aren’t focused on such things….

More on that below. 

I started talking with our youngest son about it, who had some really thought-provoking questions. We talked about how we sometimes can “think” something is true or right, but it really isn’t. I was able to give him an example of a situation where a thought I had was RIGHT.

However, I let my emotions take over & my thoughts became very negative. I was thinking on such things alright…and not in a good way. My IMAGINATIONS got the better of me. I began thinking along the lines of “I deserve better” or “They don’t value you” or pick your poisonous thought…I probably thought it.

How many of us know that when our emotions take over, our imaginations have a way of going off on these rabbit trails of deception?

*

As I continued reading, out of nowhere I started thinking about politics and social media. “Fact-checking” or “fact-check” are popular buzzwords these days in politics.

We need truth! We need truth in the news we consume, in politics and from the politicians who represent us. We need truth in our relationships and in our workplaces – but sometimes folks only read the “headlines”.

In the age of social media, it’s gotten a lot harder to discern what is truth and what’s not. For our current American political climate, it is vital. But as I was thinking about “politics”, I heard the Spirit of the Lord say, “Fact check your thoughts with My word.” 

Full stop!

Re-read Philippians 4:8 again, He told me.

“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.”

Wow! 

How do we fact-check our thoughts? With the Word of GOD!!!!

I don’t know about you, but my thoughts can sometimes derail me into a rabbit hole of negativity about myself or others or situations I’m going through.

Admittedly, I do not fact-check my thoughts as often as I should. I know what the Bible “says”, but I’ve struggled putting it into practice at times. I struggle with remembering Scripture. But God telling me to fact-check my thoughts, well, that’s on another level. I can easily remember that!!!

What’s so amazing about what the Lord said though is that He spoke in a way that He knew would blow my mind. He took a buzzword from today’s culture and combined it with His WORD!

That’s not to say that memorizing Scripture isn’t beneficial. It very much life-giving, especially in these days now and yet to come. But He knows I love these kinds of nuggets.

I can remember “fact-check your thought life with the Word of God!” And I can remember how it relates to Philippians 4:8 and 2 Corinthians 10:5. When negative thoughts or self-righteous, prideful thoughts or even condemning, life-sucking thoughts come from the devil, I will remember that they do not line up with what God says in His word!

*

If we’re not careful, our negative thoughts can become a pattern. Thought patterns that steer you away from God and His Word – anything that tries to get you to not look at Jesus – will steal life from you.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

_{John 10:10 (ESV)}

Jesus came to give us life. Not just life here on earth but for all eternity.

And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

_{Luke 4:17-19 (NKJV)}

Jesus came to give life. His words weren’t just for then. His Word is for now.

What about you? Do you deal with or struggle with negative thoughts? Do you dwell in negativity in your relationships? Do you berate yourself or others for choices made or not made? My friend, this word is for you today. Start with Philippians 4:8 and 2 Corinthians 10:5. Mix in John 10:10 and Luke 4:17-19 and you are well on your way to fact-checking your thought life with the Word of God!!

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Knees Down, Prayers Up

Sunny