07/15/2026
This was in my email from The Jesus People Movement
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right... think about such things." Philippians 4:8​
Hi friend,
Have you ever noticed how different you feel after spending thirty minutes reading Scripture compared to thirty minutes scrolling through bad news?
Both shape your thinking. But they don't shape it in the same direction.
Our minds are constantly being formed by whatever we consume.
That's why Proverbs tells us to guard our hearts, because everything we do flows from them. One of the primary ways we guard our hearts is by paying attention to what consistently fills our minds.
The prophet Elijah experienced this after his victory on Mount Carmel. One threatening message from Queen Jezebel consumed his thoughts until fear overshadowed everything God had just done. His circumstances hadn't changed nearly as much as his focus had.
Paul gives us a healthier pattern in Philippians 4. Instead of allowing our thoughts to drift wherever fear takes them, he encourages us to intentionally dwell on what is true, honorable, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy.
Notice that Paul doesn't tell us to ignore reality. He teaches us to filter reality through God's truth.
I've learned that my peace often rises or falls with what I consistently allow into my mind.
If I fill my heart with fear, anxiety usually follows.
If I fill my heart with God's Word, hope begins to grow.
That doesn't mean we avoid difficult news or ignore what's happening around us. It simply means we refuse to let the loudest voices become the most influential voices in our lives.
One practice that has helped me is asking a simple question whenever I consume information:
Is this helping me trust God more, or is it simply making me more anxious?
That's a worthwhile question because what we feed grows.
If we feed fear, fear grows. If we feed faith, faith grows.
Choose wisely.
Together in Him,
Ryan
âś… Replace fifteen minutes of screen time today with fifteen minutes reading Scripture and quietly reflecting on God's promises.
