Think about what you are inputting into your mind. 

Is it life-giving, does it draw you closer to Jesus?

Thinking about your input isn’t a matter of legalism, it is a matter of actively choosing what influences your thoughts. Our thoughts are not only influenced by our entertainment choices and social media. Our thoughts are also influenced by relationships and social interactions, whether in person or digitally. We have to be mindful of what is making its way into our thoughts. 

“Watch your thoughts

      For they become your words.

              Watch your words

                 For they become your attitudes.

                                   Watch your attitudes

                                      For they become your actions.

                                                     Watch your actions

                                                         For they become your habits.

                                                                        Watch your habits

                                                                           For they become your character.

                                                                                          Watch your character

                                                                                           For it becomes your destiny.”*

Watching what fills our minds has a cascading effect.

But, the Bible offers a filter to guide how we fill our minds, and I’ve made it my verse of the year.

Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Does your mental input pass or fail this 8-question test?

Actively choose what goes into your mind, and ask yourself:

Is it good?

Is it worthy of praise?

Is it true?

Is it honorable?

Is it right?

Is it pure?

Is it beautiful?

Is it respected?

Give real evaluation to the conversations you have, the songs you listen to, the newsfeeds you scroll, the books you read, the TV and movies you watch, the social media accounts you follow, and the things you do with your free time.

How do all of these things stand up to that eight-question test? Are the things you’re putting into your mind good, worthy of praise, true, honorable, right, pure, beautiful, and respected?

If not, it’s time to start filling your mind with different things.

And you can do it! Because, though, you may not be able to control the content put out into the world; you can choose whether that content has access to your mind. 

*This quote in various forms has been attributed to many sources and has evolved over centuries. Each uses slightly different words and order.