Capturing One Thought at a Time

Have you ever chased a firefly? Running through the woods or grassy lawn capturing that one beautiful light blinking in the dark? Once you find that special one, you place it in a jar with punctured holes in the lid in hopes they will survive to the next day. As the little critter continues to blink you are assured there is still life in his wings. His light becomes your hope.

In the book of Philippians, the apostle Paul gives us the same hope. He tells us to capture our thoughts, look at them closely, then choose whether we need to hold onto them.

“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.” Philippians 4:8

This verse is familiar to most but within this verse is a hidden treasure.

The treasure lies within one word…IF.

To be honest, I had never given thought about this one word.

Why would the apostle Paul write that subordinating conjunction?

Is there any value within this one word?

The word IF gives us options we often do not think that we have. Just because we have taken a thought captive doesn’t mean we need to keep it.

Let’s break this down. If there is a thought that I have taken captive…a thought I obsess over.

Will my finances be okay?

Will my marriage make it?

Are my children going to be safe in this crazy world?

It doesn’t matter the thought, what matters is that we have taken it captive within our minds and our hearts.

Once that thought is captive, we need to look within that thought and tear it apart digging for the gold. The gold appears as pure, lovely, true, honorable, commendable excellent or praiseworthy. IF we can find any of those nuggets within that thought, then capture it. Switch the fear to the faith. Find that gold and treasure it.

If we cannot find any of those things listed, then release the thought. Adopt the process of sifting then letting go. When there is NOTHING good in that thought…find another one!