The Phil4-8 Initiative

There is so much going wrong with the world. Scroll through Facebook. Watch the news. Talk to a friend. If the world isn’t caving in all around us, it is caving in inside us!

I had a very difficult time staying positive last week. For silly reasons, I let bitterness get the best of me in every area of my life: ministry, weather, my body, traffic, family, even my quiet time with God (also known as my Breakfast with Jesus).

Now it is Monday, of a brand new week. I can’t let bitterness and ungratefulness cloud my mind again. I know my Sustainer* has a greater plan for my mind. When it comes to negativity, my mom has always said, “don’t let it rent space in your head.”

Now, I cannot put a big neon “No VACANCY” sign on my forehead. But I can welcome the right guests into my brain.

Luckily, God didn’t leave me without a playbook in this area. So I will put to practice the Phil4-8 Initiative: to focus on whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, and anything of excellence or worthy of praise. My mission: dwell on these things. (Philippians 4, verse 8).

Anybody else struggling to find a silver lining? Make yourself a “Phil4-8” list (pronounced: “fill”-four-eight)

Here is mine for today:

Becky’s Phil4-8; April 22, 2013

• True: I have been giving the resume of Jesus Christ.
• Honorable: our amazing set of students who helped clean up after last night’s dinner.
• Just/right: God’s perfect holiness and intimacy displayed at creation (I am currently reading a Bible study titled, Creation Unraveled.)
• Pure: the affection and trust a baby has for her mama, even while sitting in a shopping cart. I was blessed to catch this scene in passing while at the grocery store.
• Lovely: The sparkly snow (it may be April, but it’s still pretty)
• Commendable: the exceptional attitude of the checker at Walmart. Good job!
• Excellent: A young friend of mine longing to be faithful for her future husband.
• Praise-worthy: My husband willingness to go the extra-mile at work.

Need more ideas? Read this post I wrote last year, about my trip to South Africa and how God taught me to see the positive in a very discouraging situation. That’s where the Phil4-8 initiative all started for me.

Please know, I am praying for you. I hope to hear how God is working in your MIND today. Comment below or share a link to your own blog.

In His praise-worthy grace,

Becky

*I am trying to use relevant and intimate words for God, specific to the characteristic He is revealing of Himself. Today, I am reminded that HE is my Sustainer.