Marcus Aurelius was the last of the Roman rulers known as the Five Good Emperors, and he was also a known as a Stoic philosopher. He once said: “The most important things in life are the thoughts you to choose to think.” 

Just think about that for a moment...(somewhat ironically, I know). If that statement is true, then the most important decisions you and I will make today are what we think about. 

So, we can think thoughts of faith or thoughts of doubt, thoughts of hope or thoughts of despair, thoughts of love or thoughts of hate. And you can be sure, our thoughts will find their way into our words and our actions as the day wears on...and they might very well end up on our social media posts as well!

I remember we had a sign on the wall of our locker room when I was in high school, intended, I am sure, to motivate us toward good results on the field and court. It said: "You are what you think about all day long." I know it was supposed to encourage a winning attitude, but I never really understood what it meant. (Nor did I realize that it was a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson, which may or may not have given credibility to my pre-game mindset at the time.)

But think about that (again). We become what we think. As Proverbs 23:7 reminds us, "As a man thinks in his heart, so he is." That's why every temptation begins with a thought. So does every act of goodness. That’s also why Paul wrote that as we are no longer conformed to this world, we should "Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think." (Romans 12:2,NLT)

Paul also wrote about our thought life in his letter to the church at Philippi. Here's what he said: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." (Phil. 4:8-9)

Notice the promise there at the end. When we make the conscious choice to think on things that are true and right and honorable, and then practically live out our faith, we will know the presence of the God of peace in our lives.

By the way, Paul was practicing what he preached, even as he wrote Philippians, which some have called "the epistle of joy." He was more than likely in the dungeon of a Roman prison at the time he penned those words. But he did not allow his circumstances to define his mindset. He chose to be joyful, anyway, and even just a few verses prior to that passage reminded his readers to do the same: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!" (Phil. 4:4)

We have those same choices ourselves, about what we will think about, and thus, who we will be. So here are some good choices of "faith, hope and love" you can make with your thoughts today:

• Decide to believe the best about the future God has planned for you. That’s faith. 

• Decide to expect the best in each situation, because God is at work in the details. That’s hope. 

• Decide to give your best to those around you, because this is what he has called you to. That’s love. 

I am praying for you today, that the Lord will bless your life with joy and peace as you take every thought captive to make it obedient to Him. (2 Cor. 10:15) I look forward to seeing you Sunday.

--Pastor Ken