Corona Devo 1542

What book is on our night stand?  What's on our play-list or is "recommended"?

The last book we read or movie we watched?

What song do we keep singing?  What are we thinking about when we're not thinking?

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. (9) Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.  ~Philippians 4:8-9

~~~

I used to know a family that had these verses written-out and adhered to the rectangle edges of their TV set, and (as of late), I have been contemplating making the same "frame" for our tv screen.

Why?

Because I'm watching too many episodes of the tv series "Dance Moms".  

The mom's of these tween and teen girl-dancers are petty, critical, mean, and self-centered.  ...And if there is an episode playing in my living room, I can't seem to tear myself away from their unlovely chatter.

It's embarrassing to admit (and watch)..and yet, it keeps happening.  

There is just about nothing that is noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy about "Dance Moms", and so it was the very first thing that came to mind when I read Philippians 4:8-9.

We all have a "Dance Moms" vice in our life.  

What if we asked ourselves these questions (from God) in reference to everything we watched on TV, or viewed on our computer screen/phone screen?  What if we interrogated ourselves about the music we listen to, the books and magazines that we read, the banter we engage in and the thoughts we think?  

Is it true?

Is it noble?

Is it right?

Is it pure?

Is it lovely?

Is it admirable?

Is it excellent?

Is it praiseworthy?

I don't know about you, but I just "nixed" about 90% of the comments that I make, and these verses also nullify God's approval-rate of many things that I do, say, and see.

But not merely limited to viewing and listening, the Bible challenges us to consider the things about which we think.  These things (which we allow to enter our mind and thoughts) should be true (Are the things that we are "believing" true, or are we just accepting them as truth?).  Noble: we must train our hearts to seek whatever is noble (the nobility of ideas and deeds has waned greatly within our country and world, but God's Word tasks us to think about noble things).

...whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  ~Philippians 4:8

What are we viewing, reading, listening-to, thinking and saying today?  God is asking us to check ourselves.  Is it true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy?  

If "yes", then...keep it up.  

And if "no", then ...put an end to it.

What we "let in" to our minds and hearts...comes back out.  

If we are watching an argumentative, self-promoting and superficial tv series, then how do I expect it to affect me?  

Will I want to be a better human and more-like-Jesus once I watch another episode?  Nope.

What we ingest becomes a part of us, whether we want it to, or not.  

Last week, we watched a sci-fi thriller movie, and a few days later, our daughter awoke one morning with blurry eyes and complaining of "nightmares" in which snakes were crawling around her and trying to bite her.  

This was an exact scene from the movie we watched, (a movie which was not true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy).  

So...why were we watching it?

~~~

Does God want us to "cut out" all of the fun/entertainment/relaxation in our lives?  

I think a more beneficial question to ask is, "How/what/who are we defining as fun/entertainment/relaxation in our lives?"  And might God have something better/deeper/richer/more beneficial in mind for us?

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. (9) Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.  ~Philippians 4:8-9

Garbage in...garbage out.

But, true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy in, and the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:9), out.  

There will be no nightmares, crass talk, self-focus, or God-deviation when our input is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy.

So, let's turn off the tv series, and turn down the voices and music and influencers that are not God.  Let's think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy today.  

And let's not just listen to God's Word and the things that He would deem true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy today, but let's put it into practice (Philippians 4:9).

And then what?  Can we expect nightmares to wake us and critical talk to flow from our lips and heart?

No--we can expect the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:9).

And--what else could we ask for? 

(Now can somebody please hand me the remote control?  I have to turn this show off.)

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com



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