Philippians 4:8
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.
Paul gives us a checklist of things we can do to have peace just like pilots have a checklist to ensure they arrive at a location safely. If a pilot forgets #4 (ie gasoline) he’s in trouble. If we forget #4 (purity) we are in trouble.
This checklist keeps our minds on him.
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Here’s a great checklist taught by Francis Chan in this 2 minute video. Does what you do serve the red part of the rope or the white part of the rope?
I don’t care who you are, we all have inappropriate thoughts trying to sneak in from time to time. We all need a bouncer at the door of our mind, looking through a peephole to see who is allowed into our minds and who isn’t. The Bible says it is possible to control these thoughts. To live a victorious and abundant life in Jesus, it’s imperative. If it weren’t possible God wouldn’t have told us to do so.
2 Cor 10:5 take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ
The filter (peephole) that we use is the checklist we find in Philippians 4:8
Is it?
1. True? A lot of Bible verses I held as ‘truth’ for years are not found in the Bible. I challenge you to personally hunt down every Biblical ‘Truth’ you have in the Bible. Some you can find. Some you can’t. Even if Grandma shouted ‘amen!’ everytime a pastor said that expression, if you can’t find it in the Bible, don’t believe it. There are many opinions, thoughts and even seemingly good deeds that are untrue. Stay away from them. Evaluate everything against the Word of God. If it isn’t in the Bible, don’t put much stock in it.
2. Honest? Honesty is internal. Are you being honest? Do you have honest thoughts? I have a friend, a Christian brother, who loves the Lord I think. But he is totally ‘stolen valor’ (pretending he was something in the military that he clearly was not). I’ve tried to talk to him but no luck. He will probably carry that with him til he dies. Scary thought. Ask you every thought if it is honest or if it isn’t. If it isn’t you are accommodating the father of lives and your life will reflect it.
3. Just? Right now ‘injustice’ is a popular word. Most of the time people don’t even know what injustice is. They just know their point of view and what they want to believe. They know what the media says, and gleefully jump and everything and anything they deem as injustice. Good guys are martyred and bad guys idolized in the name of a weird lopsided injustice. Don’t think about injustice all the time. It jades you and makes you ugly. Most often we are not informed accurately enough to know. Focus on just things. A hardworking dad providing for his family. A cop helping a victim of an accident. There are just things to think about if you want to.
4. Pure? A child’s smile is pure. God’s love is pure. Puppies are pure. Pure means to me without stain or darkness. Pure, unblemished. Don’t be suspicious. Don’t try to read between the lines. Adults seem to be waiting for the other shoe to fall. Like that pure friendship will disappoint them. That pure marriage will end up in divorce. But don’t think that way. To the pure all things are pure.
5. Lovely? Flowers, babies, puppies (did I already say puppies), friendships, marriages are all lovely. Let them be lovely. Take them at face value. Praise God when you see the ocean, learn something new, look at the sunrise or sunset, see the stars at night. It’s lovely. God is glorified.
6. Good report? Good news? Good reputation? Be gullible enough to believe it. Rejoice when you hear it. Don’t be that glum stick in the mud. Use common sense but be gracious.
7. Any Virtue? Good kids in school? Bride wearing white? Parents bragging about their kids. People getting rewards? When someone tells you something believe them, unless you clearly see it’s a lie. Rejoice with them, don’t question what you see unless it presents peril or problems. Enough in our own lives to worry about.
8. Any Praise? Praise God for everything. A newborn cow or infant. Christmas. New Year. At a funeral for a life well lived.
A lot of people aren’t Christians because of people they know who are. If Christians followed this checklist they would be a lot better off, and so will all the people watching them:
Phillipians 4:9 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.
Love 
Dean and Winnie Peters
PureHeartChildren’sFund