July 14 2026

Tuesday July 14

From Right Thinking to Right Living

Philippians 4:8-9

Welcome to Pastor's Chat. Today we conclude our study of Philippians 4:8. For the past several days we have carefully walked through this remarkable verse. Paul has given us a divine pattern for guarding our minds. He has taught us to think on things that are True... Honorable... Just... Pure... Lovely... Of Good Report... Full of Virtue... And Worthy of Praise. But before we leave this verse, I want us to step back and see the big picture.

Paul is not merely giving us a list. He is describing the mind of Christ. Earlier in this letter, in Philippians 2:5, Paul wrote, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." Now, in chapter 4, he shows us what that mind looks like. Everything on this list perfectly describes our Lord Jesus Christ. He is Truth. Everything about Him is honorable. Everything He does is just. He is absolutely pure. His life is altogether lovely. Everything He says is of good report. He is the very definition of virtue. He alone is worthy of all praise. The more we think about Christ... The more we become like Christ.

Paul understood something we often forget. Our lives move in the direction of our thoughts. That is why verse 8 comes before verse 9. First comes right thinking. Then comes right living. Listen to the opening words of verse 9: "Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do..."

Notice the progression. Think... Then do. Meditate... Then practice. Truth believed becomes truth lived.

For years I have been reminded that the Christian life is much like building a house. Our thoughts are the foundation. Our words become the framework. Our actions build the walls. Our habits put on the roof. Our character becomes the finished house. Everything begins with the foundation. No wonder Solomon wrote, "For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he." (Proverbs 23:7)

The battle for the Christian life is truly the battle for the mind. That battle is being fought every day. It is fought by what we watch. What we read. What we listen to. What we meditate upon. What we allow to remain in our thoughts. The wonderful news is that God has not left us defenseless. He has given us His Holy Spirit. He has given us His Word. He has given us the privilege of prayer.

In verse 7 He promises the peace of God to guard our hearts.

In verse 8 He gives us the truth of God to guard our minds.

Tomorrow, in verse 9, He gives us the God of peace to guide our lives.

What a beautiful progression! The peace of God guards our hearts. The truth of God guards our minds. The God of peace guides our lives.

Friend, this week, why not memorize Philippians 4:8? Write it on a card. Read it every morning. Pray through each phrase. Use it as a filter for every thought that enters your mind. As you do, you'll discover that God is not merely changing what you think. He is changing who you are. And when our minds become more like Christ, our lives will become more like Christ. That is the goal of the Christian life.

Tomorrow we'll begin looking at verse 9 and discover that God's truth is never meant merely to be admired. It is meant to be practiced.

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for this wonderful passage that teaches us how to guard our minds. Thank You for giving us the perfect example of the Lord Jesus Christ. May His mind increasingly become our mind. Help us to think Your thoughts, love what You love, reject what dishonors You, and faithfully practice what You teach us. May our lives point others to our wonderful Savior. In His precious name we pray. Amen.

God bless and may you have a wonderful wonderful day!