This is a lesson I’ve had to learn the hard way. And if I’m completely honest with you, it’s a lesson that I’m still learning.

What you think about matters.

I recently came home from a long day of meetings, various kid pickups and drop-offs, basketball practice, and deadlines… and I was exhausted. As I was getting ready for bed that night, I was updating my husband on the day’s events. When I had finished, he turned to me and said, “Wow, sounds like you had a really rough day.”

His response caught me off guard and made me think about what I had chosen to share with him. What type of events did I focus on and deem important, versus the events that I let go unnoticed and felt were not important enough to share in my evening update?

The truth of the matter was, even though my day had been busy – and yes, a little hectic at times – it really was a good day.

It was a day filled with the people I love the most; a day mixed with motherhood and running a ministry that I’m crazy passionate about. And yet I had chosen to focus my thoughts on the stress and the deadlines rather than the good that God had blessed me with throughout the day.

My husband’s comment showed me that all day I had been focusing my thoughts on exactly the opposite of Philippians 4:8. Instead of thinking about what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely… I allowed my mind to focus on the negative, my insecurities, and my short-comings. The result? I conveyed a negative outlook on my day which didn’t completely reflect what was true.

The older I get the more I realize the importance of living out Philippians 4:8. Every single day I have the choice to focus on the good, the lovely, and His truth, or I can allow my mind to focus on the opposite.

The reality is, what I feed my mind affects every area and every relationship in my life. That’s why 2 Corinthians 10:5 is so important. We must learn to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. God’s Word is the foundation of truth our lives must be built upon, not our thoughts or emotions.

Our thought life is powerful and if left unchecked, has the power to destroy us from the inside out. That is why it is so important to be in God’s Word daily – refreshing our minds with His truth and allowing God to direct us, convict us, and speak to us through His inspired words.

“Right thinking is the result of daily meditation on the Word of God.” – Warren Wiersbe

So friends, join me in choosing to focus our minds on Philippians 4:8:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

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Today I choose to focus my mind on God’s truth rather than on Satan’s lies. I will no longer listen to Satan’s accusations over my life.

Today I choose to focus my mind on what is honest and just instead of allowing my mind to focus on dishonorable thoughts or memories.

Today I choose to focus my mind on what is pure, lovely, and commendable, training my eyes to see those qualities in my world instead of allowing the evil and corruption of the world to be the focus of my mind.

Today I choose to focus my mind on the amazing work God is doing in me and in others around me.

Today I choose to see more of Him and less of the world.

Today I choose to be in control of my mind instead of my mind being in control of me. I will no longer be a slave to my thoughts.

Join me?

Love God Greatly!

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Angela Perritt

Angela Perritt is the founder and director of LoveGodGreatly.com, a nonprofit online Bible study ministry reaching thousands of women in over two hundred countries around the world with God’s Word through their translated Bible studies. She and her husband live in Dallas, Texas with their three daughters. Angela is passionate about God’s Word and believes one woman in God’s Word can change a family, community and ultimately a nation. Her greatest joy is to encourage her children and others to love God greatly with their lives one day at a time. You can connect with her on Instagram.