Philippians 4:8 - "Whatever Things Are True"

Yesterday we learned that if we are goingto enjoy the peace of God guarding our hearts, then we must also guard ourminds.  TodayPaul gives us the first test for every thought that enters our minds: "Whateverthings are true." Everything begins with truth. We live in a worldwhere truth is often questioned, ignored, or even rejected. We hear people say,"Well, that's your truth," or "This is my truth." But theBible teaches that truth is not something we invent—it is something God reveals.Jesus declared in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: noman cometh unto the Father, but by Me." Later, as He prayed to theFather, Jesus said in John 17:17: “Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy wordis truth." God'sWord is the absolute standard of truth. If we are going to think correctly, wemust think Biblically. Why does Paul begin here? Because Satan's greatestweapon has always been deception. In the Garden of Eden, the serpent did notbegin by denying God. He began by questioning God's Word. "Yea, hathGod said...?" (Genesis 3:1) Then he contradicted God. "Youshall not surely die." (Genesis 3:4) A lie believed always leads tobondage. But the truth believed always leads to freedom. Jesus said in John8:31-32: "If you continue in My word, then are you My disciples indeed;and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Thinkabout how many lies Satan tries to whisper into our minds. He says, "Goddoesn't really love you." The Bible says, "The LORD hath appearedof old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love."(Jeremiah 31:3) Satan says, "God has abandoned you." God says, "Iwill never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5) Satan says,"Your failures define you." God says, "If any man be inChrist, he is a new creature." (2 Corinthians 5:17) Satan says,"There is no hope." God says, "Blessed be... the God of allcomfort." (2 Corinthians 1:3) Yousee, every temptation begins with believing a lie, and every victory beginswith believing God's truth. That is why we must continually fill our minds withScripture. Someone once compared the mind to a garden. If you do notintentionally plant flowers, weeds will naturally grow. The same is true of ourminds. If we neglect God's Word, the weeds of fear, doubt, bitterness, lust,pride, and anxiety will quickly take over. David understood this. He wrote in Psalm 119:11, "Thy word haveI hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee." Noticehe didn't simply read God's Word. He hid it in his heart. He stored it there sothat when temptation came, truth was already available. That is exactly how ourLord defeated Satan during His temptation in the wilderness. Every time Satantempted Him, Jesus answered with the same words: "It iswritten..." He responded to every lie with the truth of God's Word.Ephesians 6:13-14 says: “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that youmay be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Standtherefore, having girded your waist with truth…” Friend,one of the greatest habits you can develop is to begin every day reading,meditating on, and memorizing Scripture. Throughout the day, ask yourself,"Is what I'm thinking true according to God's Word?" If it isn't,reject it and replace it with what God has said.  Remember, God's peace guards our hearts, butGod's truth guards our minds. Today,determine that your mind will be anchored—not in your feelings, not in theopinions of the world, and not in the changing circumstances of life—but in theunchanging truth of God's Word. Godbless and may you have a wonderful wonderful day!