Philippians 4:8 Finally, believers, whatever is true and authentic, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart]. (AMP)
The Greek word for excellence is “arête” refers to “distinction” or “outstanding goodness”. Apostle Paul advises us to be steeped, soaked and saturated in pristine thoughts of “excellence” and memories that are “praiseworthy”.
A study says that one out of every two talk about their negative experiences whereas only one out of every hundred talk about their positive experiences. Our conversations are only a summary of our ruminations. Dr Daniel Amen after years of research concludes that “negativity is the default position of the human psyche”. It is partly because of the brain’s survival system that is always on the defensive. “The reality is that the brain is hardwired for negativity”.
To rewire our mind to reflect on what is excellence and praiseworthy, we must understand how the organ (the brain) that controls the mind, operates. The left hemisphere of the brain deals with language, logic, and problem-solving whereas our right hemisphere deals with emotions. Emotions are interpreted through body language. This is why when we are under threat or terror we become tongue-tied as the right hemisphere inundates the left hemisphere of the brain with a surge of emotions and drowns rational analysis. The logical side of our brain shuts down when we are spellbound. Those who have an untrained and immature brain will react like toddlers when they are under a tumult.
Training the brain to respond, not react; to meditate, not just masticate:
- Routine: The emotions that drive our actions must always be bridled or on a leash. Submit your emotions, intentions and aspirations to the Lord every morning. Surrender will wipe away contempt, discontent and crooked thinking. “Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” Have a “Thank You Register” to acknowledge the Lord for all His goodness. Also maintain a “Testimony Register” to record the miracle working omnipotence of the Lord. Gratitude is a developed disciple of the mind.
- Reassess: Apply the 70%-20%-10% rule to your thinking box, the brain. 70% of our thoughts must be innovative, initiative and insightful; 20% must be reflective, recording and reassessing, and 10% should be about people, problems and pitfalls. Most people have it on the reverse. “Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people”. 70% of our time must be spent in learning and developing; 20% in correcting or reconstructing, and 10% in building or renovating relationships. Reassess the thinking pattern.
- Reminders: After every mighty miracle, the Lord directed Israel to erect pillars or altars as signs and symbols of remembrance. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder..6 to serve as a sign among you (Joshua 4:5-6). Set phone reminders, post-it notes or email prompts as reminders to meditate on whatever is excellent or worthy of praise. Reminders resets our ruminations.
Train the brain to meditate on the excellence of the Almighty and the praiseworthy miracles and memories to sanitize the mind.
Philippians 4:8b Think continually on these things.
Prayer: Dear Holy Spirit, help me to sanitize and center my mind on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy; implant these thoughts in my heart. Amen
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