Day 336, or December 2nd. Keep focused on what
is good. Our thoughts today are from Philippians
4, verse 8. Finally, brothers and sisters, 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. And now the big picture
surrounding this verse. Paul concludes this short
letter by warning against trusting in the world
rather than God. This is written to a newly established
church based in Philippi, a military town with
little spiritual life. He closes by encouraging
all believers to know peace with their fellow
believers and God, and enjoy real peace in all
circumstances. These are striking words from
an author who is writing from a filthy, smelly,
damp cell, as nearly all prisons were in those
days. His mind is focused on the best, even though
he is surrounded by the worst. He is not resentful
of others' freedom, but urges them to enjoy it
to the full, in Christ. And now today's action
step. When I ponder the verse for today, how
can I have time to do anything wrong? If I concentrate
on things that are true and noble, I wonder how
that will change my TV viewing. If I focus on
what is pure, lovely and admirable, what has
to change about the books and magazines I read?
Only thinking about anything that is excellent
or praiseworthy will, I am sure, concentrate
my mind on things that are good for me. However,
I lose focus regularly. A distraction doesn't
have to be bad in order to be a distraction.
It just has to deflect us from the best. After
recording the whole Bible as part of the step
-by -step MP3 audio, I have since listened to
it as well as other recordings, and have found
them so helpful. I tend to tidy things up at
the end of the day because I hate coming downstairs
in the morning to an untidy room. Whilst doing
this, I listen to the Bible on my MP3 player.
It's a great habit and very edifying. Try it
and see if it works for you.