Give Your Attitude a Checkup

The late Zig Ziglar loved to say that people need a "checkup from the neck up." When was the last time you gave your attitude a "checkup"?

Your attitude needs routine adjustment so that you can better enjoy life and navigate through its challenges and difficulties.

The Apostle Paul offers a great way to check our attitude in Philippians 4:8, which reads (in the KJV)…

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.

The overall theme of the book of Philippians is joy. This book is of course orginally a letter to the Christian church in Philippi. Paul encourages the Philippian believers that they can find joy in every circumstance, both in times of suffering and times of abundance. He emphasizes the importance of unity, humility, and serving others as a means of experiencing joy in Christ.

In the fourth chapter, as he winds up, he encourages people to take their burdens and anxieties to God in prayer. And then he gives us verse 8.

Even if you're not a Christian, this is an extremely helpful verse full of great wisdom in how we should manage our thoughts and emotions. And it's a great verse to use as a checkup for our attitude.

According to Philippians 4:8, we should focus our mind on things that are:

1. True (?ληθ?) –?Alethe?– True, trustworthy, genuine
2. Noble (σεμν?) –?Semna?– Venerable, honorable, worthy of respect
3. Just (δ?καια) –?Dikaia?– Righteous, just, fair
4. Pure (?γν?) –?Hagna?– Pure, chaste, clean
5. Lovely (προσφιλ?) –?Prosphile?– Pleasing, lovely, amiable
6. Of good report (ε?φημα) –?Euphem?Of good report, well-spoken of, reputable
7. Virtue (?ρετ?) –?Arete?– Virtue, excellence, goodness
8. Praise (?παινο?) –?Epainos?– Praise, commendation, approval

Think about your thoughts. Think about what you normally think about, talk about, and focus on. And ask yourself how many of your thoughts fall into the categories described by Paul in this wonderful verse.

The more we focus our mind on the things Paul writes about in Philippians 4:8, the better our lives will be.

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