Philippians 4:8-9 KJV
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
Thoughts in the mind manifest in the flesh.
In the book, Think & Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill wrote, “what the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” Worldly or temporary success was assured if his process was followed. Centuries before Hill wrote these inspiring words, the Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the Philippian church that conveyed a broader application than the process contained in Think & Grow Rich. Paul’s words were inspired by the Holy Spirit with a promise of both temporal and eternal success.
In verse six, he wrote, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” For eternal success, all of our thoughts should be preceded by prayer, supplication and thanksgiving.
Hill referenced habits practiced by very successful people to help his readers create a process for success. Paul’s broader application puts the thoughts of his readers under the control of the Holy Spirit, that results in him declaring “the God of peace shall be with you.”
That’s good, but there’s more! Because Paul has a personal and intimate relationship with God, he expounds on the “peace of God” and says, “God will supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Napoleon Hill could only speak to success in the material world, the world of the flesh and of things, but Paul could talk about eternal promises in addition to earthly success. The inference is that your needs here on earth are met when your mind is thinking on things that are true, honest, just, pure, and lovely, things of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy.
February is Black History month. Celebrations and tributes are being made around the nation in remembrance of the contributions African Americans and people of color have made to the fabric of society. Some of the accomplishments of the ancestors came with great personal sacrifice, persecutions, and trials. But they thought, conceived, believed, professed, and declared better days ahead for their children and their grandchildren. Through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, they let their requests be made known unto God. As Paul encouraged the Philippian church to follow his lead, we should also follow his lead, and the lead of our ancestors in anticipation of temporal, and eternal success.
What are you thinking about? Are your thoughts on those things that are true, honest, just, pure, and lovely; things of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy? If not, why not? Thoughts in the mind manifest in the flesh.
Be Blessed!
Rev. J. Loren Russell is President/CEO of The JLR Company for Church Financial Strategy & Consulting; an associate minister at both Goodwill and The Greater Universal Baptist Churches in the Bronx; creator & host of “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” Mondays 8:00 – 10:00 PM on Facebook LIVE and author of Matters of Faith: The Book (eBook available at Smashwords).
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