Think Change

Philippians 4:8 instructs us:

Finally, brothers, 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.

Ever get something stuck in your mind and you just can't get it out? You can't stop thinking about it? It's like a stream of water that cuts a track and the longer it goes, the deeper the track gets until the water can't flow any other direction. The only way to change the thought is to change the track by changing your thinking. Using the verse above as your outline, try this:

Draw six columns on a piece of paper. Label the top of each column with one of the six words from the verse above: True, Noble, Right, Pure, Lovely, Admirable. Then set aside a few minutes and list 20 things that could apply in each column. 

What is true in your life? Saying "I'm a moron" isn't true. It's an opinion. And a jaded one at that. Saying "I don't know everything" - now that's true and it shows self awareness.

What is noble? List them. For example: "It was very noble of my husband to take the bus so that I could have the vehicle today."

What is right? 

What is pure?

What is lovely?

What is admirable?

Don't forget to include things about God and good things that have happened in you, through you and for you. List more than just physical things. The list could include spiritual or emotional items. If one of the words isn't clear, look it up in the dictionary or thesaurus to try to better understand it's meaning.

This might take you a couple of days to get your list, but then post it where you can read it every day. The negative thoughts about yourself or your circumstances, wash them away with the positive thoughts in your list.

Before long, you'll find that negative song is gone. The water of your thoughts starts to carve a different path. Because you see, you can't just "stop thinking" unhelpful things. You must replace them with positive things. Give it a try. Several have said this process of thinking and meditation on the things that are excellent and praiseworthy helped them overcome depression.

Give it a try! You never know how the water might flow more smoothly in a different path.