Philippians 4:8 “Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

I was recently watching a bit of TV before going to sleep and I saw a few snippets of a show on happiness.  The man who was sharing his research seemed genuinely happy and never stopped smiling.  It was strange to watch but his smile did seem genuine.  One of the “tricks” he shared about being happier was thinking of three things that were really good about your day.  He said you need to be specific and think about why the things you chose were good.  Another “trick” was replaying a really happy situation in your mind so you could experience it again, making your mind happy again.  In a strange way, he was telling us the same thing Paul wrote so long ago.  If we focus our minds and our hearts on true and pure things, honorable and just things, things worthy of praise we would be better for it.  Instead of seeing clouds as a blocking of sunlight, see them as shade and relief.  As days get shorter find joy in the coolness of the mornings.  Instead of focusing on the bad news shared in our media, focus on the love and light of God shared in this world every moment.  Join me in the search for honor and justice, purity and truth.  Seek with me and we will find.  Then we will be able to join together to manifest these things further in our world.

Lord,

Bring our sight into focus on the things you would have us see.  There is so much to see in our world, let our hearts and minds think on the things Paul teaches us to in this verse.  Lift our hearts in songs of praise to you today.  Amen.