The Path to God’s Peace: Put Your Thinking Into Practice

These words need little commentary or explanation; the command is clear: Think about things that are excellent or right.

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (Phil. 4:8 NLT, a thought-for-thought translation)

“Finally, brothers and sisters, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable.” (Phil. 4:8 GOD’S WORD, a meaning-for-meaning translation)

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.” (Phil. 4:8 NET, a literal translation)

The Apostle Paul ties thinking to action with an expected outcome (you have to read verse 9 in Philippians):

1. Think about excellence and rightness. 
   
2. Put the things you think about, see, and learn into practice.
   
3.  Experience God’s peace and presence.
   

It’s easy enough to say we should think about the world differently. It takes resolve to turn intent into action.

Perhaps that’s why we don't have the peace God intends for us: We think about things without practicing them.

You experience God’s peace when you put his thinking into practice.

It seems so obvious.