Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:8

We are commanded in Scripture to take captive every thought we have and make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10.5). This simply means to take control over what we think about God, yourself, others, your life, etc. and to filter our thoughts through the truth of who God is and what he says. Paul gives us direction in Philippians 4:8 on what we should be thinking about. And he goes on to say in the following verse that when we do, we will have the peace that only comes from God, a peace that will protect our hearts from anxiety and turmoil when we focus on his kingdom and righteousness.

When we find ourselves lacking peace, it is a good practice to consider what we are thinking about and to filter it through the truth in God’s Word. When I am lacking peace in my life, I often find that my thoughts are not in line with God’s truth and I need to take them captive. 

I have borrowed this list from Elyse Fitzpatrick’s book, Overcoming Fear, Worry, and Anxiety, and use it often to help me identify my thoughts so I can then practice repentance to bring my thoughts into obedience to the truth. 

• True | Is what I’m thinking about true about God, particularly his fatherly care for me?

• Noble | Do my thoughts honor God? Do they reflect the knowledge that he is wonderful, kind, loving, wise, and powerful?

• Right | Are my thoughts holy, righteous, or just? Are they the kind that the Lord himself would think?

• Pure | Do my thoughts cast doubt on God’s goodness or the truth of his promises? Do they elevate my own importance or desire?

• Lovely | Do my thoughts flow from a heart filled with tenderness and affection for the Lord? Would my thoughts bring him pleasure?

• Admirable | Are my thoughts of good repute? Are they grounded in faith?

• Excellent | Do my thoughts cause me to be fearful, or do they fill my heart with courage and strong commitment to virtuous living?

• Praiseworthy | Would the Lord commend my thoughts? Would they bring him glory?

My Lord, I confess that I often have thoughts that do not reflect the truth of who you are and what your Word says. I ask for your forgiveness. I pray for your guidance as I consider my thoughts in light of your truth and seek to take them captive under the authority of Scripture. I need your grace and your strength to do this moment by moment. I thank you for your promise to deliver peace to me and to be with me every step of the way.