Dwelling on What's of Good Repute and Excellent

In Philippians 4:8, the Lord gives us instructions as to what He desires in our pattern of thinking. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.

Our minds are to dwell on thoughts of good repute--well thought of, highly regarded, admirable. This kind of thinking searches for the good rather than the bad, in ourselves and in others.

What forms the basis of your self-image? Do you obsess over your faults and weaknesses, the things you've done wrong? Or do you focus on the Lord Jesus Christ, thankful that He died to forgive sin, and has made all who believe in Him new creatures? Does your mind dwell on who you are in Christ, on the reality that He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him, on the riches of His grace which He has lavished upon us, on the riches of the glory of our inheritance in Him, on the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe? (Ephesians 1)

We all know from personal experience about hurtful feelings. Maybe someone has said something unkind to us, or disappointed us in some way. How do we respond? Do we nurse our hurt feelings, and replay them in our minds over and over again, with the initial offense, whether real or imagined, growing each time? This is the opposite of thoughts of good repute. I need to focus on the good qualities of others, the positive actions they have taken toward me, and what positive actions I can take toward them. I want to focus on the positive in others, not the negative.

Romans 12:21
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good

What are some practical ways we concentrate on the positive? What has helped you to overcome evil with good in your relationships? What has helped you to think thoughts of good repute, about yourself or others?

When I set my mind on thoughts of bad repute, I set my course for self-pity, bitterness, and misery.

Now the terminology changes—if there is any excellence. In the Greek if can mean different things, this one could be translated since. We are commanded to think about the excellent.

Ecclesiastes 9:10a--Whatever your hand finds to do, verily, do it with all your might
Colossians 3:23--Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men

Excellence is what God desires from us, but it is very easy to fall into better than, or good enough thinking.

Well, I think I am a better Christian than so and so. I’m doing a good enough job to get by.

How do we think about the responsibilities God has given for us to do? These take on many shapes and styles for different women and at different times in our lives—maybe it’s a ministry opportunity, a responsibility we have as a student, an obligation at our place of employment, or just the day in day out activities of life. Do we take a better than, or good enough attitude? Or do we seek to please God in all we think, say, and do, and pursue excellence?

When we set our minds on better than or good enough thinking, we set our course for mediocrity and self-righteousness.