I woke up this morning thinking about how to start my day well. I usually have a lot going on in my world, so how I determine to walk through my day is important. My conclusion was to follow some wise advice from the Bible and what happens to be one of my favourite passages in God's word.
It says, "Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honourable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always." (Philippians 4:8 TPT)
However, fixing your thoughts on anything, let alone on the beautiful and good things around us and within us, doesn't usually happen automatically. Especially when you can get bombarded daily with pressures, stress, your own thoughts, and sometimes being confronted with the broken parts of the world.
But God has a lot of wisdom on how to cultivate beauty and great things in our daily lives. He continually says things like, "whoever wants to embrace real life and find beauty each day is to stop speaking evil, hurtful words and lying. Turn from what is wrong and cultivate what is good, and eagerly pursue peace in every relationship, making it your prize." (1 Peter 3:10-12 TPT)
When we follow this advice and value what God says is beautiful and worth focusing on, it changes our perspective. Instead of being caught up so much in the world's negative, bad news, fear, and ugly thinking or behaviour, we focus on what is good and worthy of shouting about. It reminds us that God is bigger than our circumstances and holding everything together.
We'll also discover that focusing on those things that are admirable and beautiful will prosper our souls, minister to our hearts, and remind us daily that God is good.
I believe that God purposely created so many beautiful places, people, and things so we can enjoy them and because He knows we need beauty around us to be fully whole. He loves to go over the top in all He does, and the beauty in creation, in a sunset, in art, music, in others and our ability to smile and laugh testifies to this part of His character and his understanding of what we need.
Our perspective, language, and even what we create and express alter as we share the beauty of what we behold. It's what God talks about when he says, "As a man thinks, so shall He be". Fix your attention on the amazing, beautiful things of life and that is what your life will reflect and be full of. Plus, you will have increased energy and motivation to pursue your goals and dreams, and peace and joy will flow into your life and relationships.
Today I encourage you to "Fix your attention on what is true, right, pure and lovely and keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and then maintain it." "Then the eyes of the Lord will watch over you, and his ears will be open to your prayers and the God of peace with be with you." (Philippians 4:8-9; 3 Peter 3:10 NLT)
Prayer: Lord, I ask that you help me fix my focus to see the beauty and amazing things around me daily. Thank you for this day and all you have made for me to enjoy it. In Jesus name Amen.