EPISODE 171: LOVELY + GOOD REPORT (Be Thinkers)

BE IN THE WORD:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:7)

The unfading beauty in a gentle and quiet spirit is of great worth in God’s sight. (1 Peter 3:4)

Out of the heart, the mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45)

BE EDUCATED:

  1. 14,000 Things to be Happy About by Barbara Ann Kipfer

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS:

  1. Make lists of things that are lovely. Don’t over-spiritualize it, just start with what brings you joy or at the very least, a smile to your face. Cat videos? Babies laughing? When you get to the cashier and find out that clearance sweatshirt got an extra 40% off? It doesn’t matter. Start with a list on your phone, and every time you think of something, write it down immediately.
  2. What things can you let go of or limit that prevent you from meditating on things that are lovely and good report? Maybe you need to mute or unfollow certain people on social media. Maybe you need to watch a show that makes you laugh instead of the news on TV. Maybe you need to restrict how much time you spend with certain people, who tend to be more critical and negative. Our transformative minds are at stake here, it’s ok to say no, or at least not right now.
  3. Ask God to begin to point out to you your innate habits that keep you from developing a rich thought life. Ask Him to tap you when you zone out on your phone while your family is in the room. Ask Him to nudge you when the 24-hr news station has been on as background noise for longer than it should have been. Ask Him to whisper to you when that podcast you listen to crosses the line into something that could potentially lead you down a wrong path. Ask Him and then really pay attention when He answers that prayer. He really, really wants you to succeed in this. He will make it easy for you, but you have to do the work with the intention of obtaining it.

Join our Be Together Community! It’s a private Facebook group where we gather regularly to encourage, uplift and pray for one another. Click here to join! You can also find us at Facebook and Twitter!