Salt in my Kitchen....series

Salt in My Kitchen

by

Jeanette Lockerbie

 

Better than a Tranquilizer

Bible reading: Philippians 4:4-8

 

Here is a last piece of advice...fix your minds on the things which are holy and right and pure and beautiful and good...and you will find that the God of peace will be with you ( vv. 8-9. Phillips)

 

Surely there is no better psychological restorative than this verse in all of God's word. "Think on these things" the King James Bible says. "These" refers to balance-restoring, nerve-calming thoughts.

Undoubtedly the Apostle Paul wrestled often with his thoughts: thoughts of friends who had forsaken him, converts who had disappointed him, his own physical discomfort, the uncertain future, the very real possibility of a violent death. Far from dwelling on "these things," Paul left us a formula for triumphing over such thoughts.  

His advice to the Christians in Philippi was, "Think on what will uplift you, not on what will drag you into depression and despair." this was not winking at facts as they were. Neither was his exhortation to "make the best of a bad thing."

Paul knew the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual value of such "thinking"; such "fixing your mind." Real value. Not to be compared for a moment with the world's panacea: tranquilizers.
"Whatsoever things are lovely"

Will crowd out the unlovely.(pg.7)