Observations:
 I asked myself what characteristics does Paul want the Philippians to think about?
1. Whatever is true 2. Whatever is noble 3. Whatever is right  4.    Whatever is pure 5. Whatever is lovely  6.  Whatever is admirable

Observations/Interpretations:
I asked myself why does Paul want the Philippians to think about these characteristics?
 Paul wanted the Philippians to think about these characteristics because they are excellent and praiseworthy.

Implications:
 I asked myself what are the important implications for my own life?
 From this command I learn that my thinking should be based on truth, nobility, righteousness, purity, love, and what is admirable.

I learned how our thinking can affect everything else in our lives. A thought comes; we think about it, then an emotion occurs, and soon it leads to action. The action itself can be good or bad depending on our thinking. It is so awesome to know that I can have direction what I should base my thinking on. It can be based on whatever is TRUE, NOBLE, RIGHT, PURE, LOVELY, and ADMIRABLE when I focus on Jesus Christ who loves me so much which is revealed through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As my thinking reflects on those values and characteristics, I won't be depressed but my eyes can be fixed on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith so that I can also 'rejoice in the Lord, letting my gentleness be evident to all without being anxious about anything but with prayer  and petition let my requests be known to God and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus' (Philippians 4:4-7)

Sadly when I let my thinking deviate from the Word of God, a lot of my thinking has led to sin because when I think negatively, I usually act negatively.

"Temptation is the pull of man's own evil thoughts and wishes. These evil thoughts lead to evil actions and afterwards to the death penalty from God." (James 1:14-15, TLB)

The Lord wants to help me here. He has helped me so much with my thinking as I focus on the Lord reminding me of Philippians 4:8. He can help you too!

In my own life, I have seen when I focused on these virtues as I depended on the Lord, meditating on the Word of God revealed in the Bible, a lot of things have changed for me. It is God's Word that leads me to right actions.

"But whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God, the Creator of light, and he shines forever without change or shadow. And it was a happy day for him when he gave us our new lives through the truth of His Word, and we became, as it were the first children in his new family." (James 1:17-18, TLB)

I ask you now dear friends, what is your T.H.I.N.K.I.N.G based on?
Dear friend, I don’t know what you are going through right now during this COVID-19 virus. During this virus maybe you are tempted to think negatively about yourself, your surroundings, and your future. Don’t let the enemy get to you on that. One of the classic cases of thinking leading to action is depression.

If there is a family that should have been depressed, it should have been our family because of losing a job after 22 years of loving & serving students in dining services on a college campus, losing a lease on a great apartment, losing great job benefits, looking for a new place to live amidst this virus, and not knowing how the path of fulltime publishing ministry will work out since we have to depend on the prayers and financial support of those who believe in the ministry we are doing.

All this could lead to depression but thanks be to God, His Word has sustained us and strenghtened us because our thinking is not a prisoner to 'What If's' but remembering the promises of God and counting our blessings of what we do have as Pastor Hugo reminded us this past Sunday in his sermon: faith, hope, and love during crisis. My darling wife Chandraleela and I encourage our daughters Esther (7) and Evangeline (4) to start their day with the Bible and think about what Jesus has in store for them. Evangeline listens to the Bible since she still cannot read. Esther reads atleast a Psalm a day and highlights promises God has for her in His Word. Today, I was reading Psalm 31 and it made me think about all the promises of the Lord and reminded me of Psalm 34 about the Lord not abandoning His loved ones whatever they are going through. Thank you Jesus!

The alternative becomes Beck’s Cognitive Triad of Depression which is based on thinking. It is a negative view of self, world, and your future. As you act on that it usually leads to depression and other symptoms. I am not saying depression does not exist if we do not think negatively for many cases of depression have to do with malfunction of neurotransmitters for which medication is needed. When thinking leads to depression that is something that can be avoided friend depending on how we approach thinking!

Instead of thinking negatively about your self, think about what the Lord thinks about you and is saying to you! Think about the Lord!

"But now the Lord who created you, O Israel, says: Don’t be afraid, for I have ransomed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up—the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, your Savior, the Holy One of Israel...and I love you!" (Isaiah 43:1-3, 4b)

"How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I can’t even count how many times a day your thoughts turn toward me. And when I waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me!" (Psalm 139:17-18, TLB)

"I am always thinking of the Lord; and because he is so near, I never need to stumble or fall." (Psalm 16:8, TLB)

Instead of thinking about how the world has wronged you, think about the Lord.

"Later, in one of his talks, Jesus said to the people, “I am the Light of the world. So if you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, for living light will flood your path.” (John 8:12, TLB)

Instead of thinking negatively about the future amidst the COVID-19 virus, think about the promises of the Lord!

"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11, TLB)

"And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans." (Romans 8:28, TLB)

"And I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns." (Philippians 1:6, TLB)

Whatever you think, that you will usually be so be careful what you base your thinking on.

"As a man thinketh, so is he!" (Proverbs 23:7a, KJV)

Jesus loves you so much that He wants you to pattern your thinking based on God's Word. You will be comforted and strenghtened.

Know Jesus went to the cross to die for your sin and came back to life to save you so that you can be with Him in eternity. Jesus paid the ransom for you from slavery to sin by His blood so you do not have to live a life of sinful thinking but be delivered by the Lord and experience eternal thinking by His grace. Thank you so much Jesus!

Whatever we think about that happened to us or we did to others, if we cannot change it, we should not keep thinking the 'what if's'. Even if we can change it, there is no point thinking about the 'what if's' but on how Jesus and the Gospel can change our thinking to reflect His purpose, pardon, peace, power, and promises in our lives! Praise the Lord for that!

No matter what you have done or where you have been, you are never out of His love and never out of His reach. Think the promises of the Lord and claim them for yourself. Let them be your ammunition against the enemy. Claim God's promises to live your life and you will find joy, peace, and love. Yes, you will.

Friend, you can do that and you will be guided and led by the Lord whether it comes to listening to music, watching videos, watching movies, etc. His thinking will become your thinking as you yield to His Word and His ways.

Jesus wants you to be full of joy and rest in Him. He will take care of you whatever you are faced with. Remember He does not want us to be anxious about anything because He is there for us. I have found His ways are the best ways for us.

Ask yourself if your thinking were to be played out like a movie, what would others see?

Would you want them to see it?

Would you want the Lord to see it?

Yet, it is so important to remember that we need the Lord's help to govern our thinking because all the self-help books and self-motivation to have right thinking will not do, without the grace of the Lord Jesus impacting our lives. He does want to impact us. Thank you so much Jesus! I rest in you Lord!

May you allow the Lord to guide your thinking for He loves you so much! May you see His grace work in your life through the trials and tribulations as you follow the Word of God! May you know that when you have bad thoughts you can take them to the Lord and He will help you! Yes, He will friend!

May you today have Immanuel’s nurturing kindness impact new guidance Amen!

"Today Have Immanuel’s Nurturing Kindness Impact New Guidance!" (T.H.I.N.K.I.N.G)/"What is your T.H.I.N.K.I.N.G based on?"

PRAYER:
Dear Jesus, I learned today about what I should think about. Lord, this is a messed up world we live in because of the virus of sin and the COVID-19 among other viruses. I am messed up because of sin and would remain messed up if it were not for your love and mercy to shower your grace upon me. Thank you so much Jesus for shedding your precious blood and coming back to life to save me. It is not easy for me to always think about positive things but that’s what you want me to do. I know our thinking can lead to action many times including depression, low self-esteem, deception, impurity, hate, and so on. Please help us to overcome negative thinking Lord for the glory and honor of your Name.  Deliver us please Jesus and help us to be focused so much on you. Help our thinking to be based upon, 'whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, and whatever is admirable.' Thank you so much Jesus. We yield our lives to thee and ask thee that you would take care of our thinking and you will help us to be focused on you. Your thoughts and your Words are what I want my thinking to be permeated by. Help me Jesus. Everything you tell us is for our good including what you give us even when we cannot understand, so I thank you and turn to you. Thank you for hearing my voice when I cry out to you. Thank you for wonderfully making me and knitting me together in my mother’s womb. You have me in your care and are my Holy Father guiding me through. I want to live for you and serve you. Thank you for your help. Thank you for hearing my prayers and answering me. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

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