I Just Got Saved . . . Now What?

Day 13

Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Today’s verse is quite lengthy and contains eight specific qualifications of topics that we should lend our minds to. I find this verse very relevant in our walk with God. The wisdom contained within this verse is worthy of the serious consideration we are going to exercise today.

I purchased an oval above-ground pool at the request of my wife for our two daughters. This purchase came with an obligation for me to perform daily maintenance in order to uphold the integrity of the water. One of the chores required is to change out the water filter no less than once every two days. After three days, the bright white fabric filter will emerge a dark slimy brown littered with dead insects. Without changing or cleaning the filter, it will soon circulate contaminated water into the swimming pool.

Our minds are similar to the water filter, and our hearts are the swimming pool. Our minds act as a filter of what we allow to enter our hearts. If we engage our minds to consume large amounts of impurities, then our hearts and subsequent actions will become impure as well.

THE THIRTY-DAY CHALLENGE

As far back as I can remember, I have always been a consumer of politics and world events. I read books on presidents, tell-all books from people within an administration, and books from generals that led war campaigns. My mornings consisted of a good hour perusing numerous websites containing news articles from around the world.

It was how I spent the rest of the days and evenings that finally revealed a dark effect upon me. I would listen to talk radio throughout the day and non-stop Fox News coverage throughout the evenings. These shows were completely founded upon two or more individuals with opposing views arguing at each other. Consuming ten plus hours per day of this left me a very angry person. I had to do something different.

I was never much of a music person in church, but I decided to substitute talk radio for K-LOVE. This transition affected me immediately. I found my tension fleeing and joy was filling the vacuum. K-LOVE markets a “thirty-day challenge” for the new listener to switch to worship music and invites him or her to evaluate the positive influence it has upon the listener’s life. I noticed it intensely!

I made many other changes in my life for similar reasons. I turned off the senseless arguing on Fox News and replaced it with books and study materials. I also committed to only reading the Bible, books about the Bible, or books espousing life-improving skills. Throughout the years, I am constantly making adjustments into what movies I watch, or what TV shows I view.

GOD’S FILTER FOR US

Our verse today gives us eight specific filters―true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good report, virtue, or praise. What are you allowing into your mind? What are you consuming on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat or any other social media? What does your internet search history declare about your web viewing? Would you categorize your media input as true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good report, virtue, or praise?

What are the typical subjects that occupy your conversations with friends? What are the books or magazines that interest you? Are you filling your mind with contaminants which will soon clog up your heart? Maybe it’s time to change the filter. Take this moment to ask God to show you what pollutant is harming your heart. Then be obedient in laying that down and replacing it with something true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good report, virtue, or praise.