“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” (Phil. 4:8).

How often do you change your mind? We constantly change our opinions, but here, the Spirit aims to do something challenging: changing our minds and shifting how we think and process the world. If we make these four practices habitual, we’ll see the effects in every relationship, temptation, and aspect of our lives.

A Reason for Joy

We don’t know the problem between Euodia and Syntyche (Phil. 4:1-3). We expect Paul to weigh in on a moral or doctrinal problem, so it was probably a personal conflict. But it had continued long enough for Paul to hear about it and respond. So, how do we resolve conflict and protect ourselves from division? What is the primary command? “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice” (Phil. 4:4).

Joy safeguards against opposition (Phil. 3:1ff). It also makes it difficult to hold a grudge (Phil. 4:2-4). Rejoicing in Christ overcomes resentment and pettiness, giving perspective and gentleness as we consider Christ’s nearness (Phil. 4:5).

No wonder Paul affectionately calls the Philippians “my joy and my crown” (Phil. 4:1). Life is better because we know each other in Christ. The Philippian Christians brought Paul joy even in prison. Ultimately, their faithfulness will be like a victory crown for him.

A Formula for Peace

Prayer cures worry. Don’t let fear, forgetfulness, or lack of faith keep you from asking for help (James 4:2). Instead of grumbling, approach God with reverent “prayer” and “supplication.” When you need help, “let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6). Surround your requests with “thanksgiving” letting gratitude and trust defeat our anxiety (Phil. 4:6). And so, peace with God leads to peace in our earthly concerns.

A Filter for Thought

Paul gives us two lists — a list of what to dwell on (Phil. 4:8) and a list of what to do (Phil. 4:9). His thought words (Phil. 4:8) can work like a filter. Your body runs on air, and your car runs on gas, but your moral life runs on thoughts. We use an air filter to remove allergens and a gas filter to keep out grime. And if you forget to install the filter on your thoughts one morning, you’ll run pollutants through your mind all day. Watch your heart. When you notice unworthy thoughts, redirect your mind to dwell on “whatever is excellent” (Phil. 4:8).

But this verse doesn’t just filter the bad — it can attract good thoughts, too! Have you ever tried not to think about something? That’s all you can think about! Rather than commanding us NOT to think about these things or even ONLY to think about these things, he adds the words “whatever” and “if there is anything” (Phil. 4:8). And the command goes from a limiting checklist to an expansive starting point for noble thinking, limited only by our imagination and the principles he gives. Mature Christians go through their day looking for honorable ideas, commendable memories, and pure, lovely things. There’s good everywhere, even in this troubled world. Try brainstorming everything lovely: a child’s smile, the sunlight coming through a tree’s leaves, the honorable character of a respected brother, or a hymn you hum to close your day. It becomes a habit. You pull good things close and get used to that way of thinking. You also learn to notice when other thoughts sully your mind. It affects our media consumption, conversations, and all our daily contemplation.

A Lesson in Contentment

Stoic philosophers of Paul’s time prized contentment and self-sufficiency above other virtues. But Paul transforms their favorite words into a statement of Christ’s sufficiency and Paul’s dependence on him. “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content … In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need” (Phil. 4:11–12). So what’s the secret? “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13). Our moods can go up and down with our surroundings like a thermometer or — like a thermostat — we can set the “temperature” with our steady outlook in Christ. Paul can accept all things (Phil. 4:11) and do all things (Phil. 4:13) because, in the Lord, he knows he has all things (Phil. 4:18-19).

If you “practice these things” (Phil. 4:9), you’ll feel like you live in a different world. Learn from God’s Word what is excellent and align your thoughts there. Focus on the mission (Phil. 1), others (Phil. 2), the goal (Phil. 3), and the Lord (Phil. 4). We can overcome personal conflicts, false teachers, life trials, and Satan’s attacks.