PHILIPPIANS 4:4–9
A mother told me a story a few years ago about how she discovered her adolescent son watching TV footage of a violent incident. She grabbed the remote control and switched the channel off. She told him abruptly, “You do not have to be watching that stuff.” After a disagreement, she finally revealed that he should think about “whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely…” (Philippians 4:8). She and her husband were watching the news after supper when their five-year-old daughter abruptly interrupted and turned off the TV. She said to them in her best “mom” voice, “You do not need to be watching that stuff.” “Now consider those things from the Bible!”
Adults can better absorb what they watch than children, but their daughter’s wisdom and amusing behaviour suggest that even well-adjusted adults can be affected by the darker side of life. Meditation on Paul’s list in Philippians 4:8 can help counteract the gloom that may settle on us.
Honouring God and protecting our hearts can be achieved by carefully choosing what we think about.
🙏 Father, open the eyes of your children today to what is beautiful.
📸: engin akyurt
