Manna for Your Morning

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. — Philippians 4:8 (NKJV) Instead of focusing on the bad reports and negative news, let’s fix our minds on the good report. Jesus is the truth (John 14:6); anything that contradicts Jesus is a lie. Fill your minds with things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Where your mind goes, your emotions and will tend to follow.

Smart people know how to hold their tongue; their grandeur is to forgive and forget.  — Proverbs 19:11 (The Message) If you find it hard to forgive, try this: Stop thinking about the offense and stop talking about it. That will allow forgiveness and healing to come easier. While you cannot erase the event from your brain, you can stop bringing the offense up to the forefront of your memory. Let it fade into the background. The more you rehearse it in your mind, the more heated and wounded your feelings become. Like a pot of boiling water, you have to remove the pan from the fire, if you want the water to cool down. Meditate on whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report (Philippians 4:8). The LORD is good and ready to forgive (Psalm 86:5). Let us be imitators of God (Ephesians 5:1).

How lovely is your dwelling place, LORD Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God . — Psalm 84:1-2 (NIV) May your soul yearn (an intense feeling of longing for something) for the courts of the LORD. We enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name (Psalm 100:4). Better is one day in His courts than a thousand anywhere else! (Psalm 84:10) We flourish in the courts of our God (Psalm 92:13). Let your heart and your flesh sing for joy to the living God!

Your dwelling place is lovely, O LORD of Armies! My soul longs and yearns for the LORD’s courtyards. My whole body shouts for joy to the living God. Psalm 84:1-2 (GW) Blessed are those who dwell in the house of the LORD! They are ever praising Him. One day in His courtyards is better than a thousand anywhere else. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to the LORD and praise His name (Psalm 100:4). Let everyone that has breath, shout for joy to the living God!

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8 (NLT) Instead of letting your mind dwell on the bad, the worst and the ugly, think about what is good, true, respectable, and admirable. If anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Elevate your thoughts and you will live your life above the circumstances of this world. Amen.

Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Philippians 4:8 (The Message) Instead of dwelling on gossip and rumor, let us meditate on what is true, honorable and right. Fill your minds with the good, not the bad; the best and not the worst. We'll do best by elevating our thoughts to things that are worthy of praise. Love, Jackie