Do you feel them? All those uninvited thoughts and emotions that barrage our hearts and minds—worry, anxiety, fear, doubt, dread, fretfulness, even panic? Or how about guilt, accusations, shame, resentment, spite, grief, heartache? The list goes on until those thoughts and emotions drive us into the arms of Jesus or crush us in a python strangle-hold.

The election looms before us, and all the conflicting information and disinformation flies into our faces every time we read, listen to, or watch the news. It is enough to overwhelm us with fear, anger, and confusion. The enemy of our souls comes to steal, kill, and destroy. He hates us and fights by any means necessary to take over our minds with deception and lies. Often He masquerades as an angel of light to deceive well-meaning people into believing that wrong is right and right is wrong.

One reason I long for the Lord Jesus to rapture me into glory is to escape the mind games of the devil. Can you imagine freedom from anxiety, discouragement, or accusations? In heaven, our minds will overflow with truth, honor, righteousness, purity, loveliness, admiration, virtue, and praise. It cannot come soon enough for me!

In the meantime, how do we fight this battle of the mind? I’ve discovered that Philippians 4:8 gives me an excellent method to replace those anxious thoughts with God’s peace. The preceding verses promise God’s peace to those who replace their anxiety with prayer and thanksgiving. Seven thought patterns follow to replace anxiety:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is virtuous or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Philippians 4:8

“Whatever is true” 

A whole plethora of thoughts and emotions get censored when we use truth as our plumb line. Is this thought or information true, or is it speculation and imagination? How do I know this thought is true? When we ask God for discernment, sound biblical resources exist to answer questions about God and His Word, right and wrong, truth and error. Paul tells us to use diligence to present ourselves approved to God as unashamed workmen, accurately handling the word of truth (2:Ti 2:15). Paul’s purpose in writing to Titus was to further our faith by knowing the truth that leads to godliness (Tit 1:1). Paul also prays for us to discern what is true (best) as our love abounds more and more in knowledge and depth of insight (see Phl 1:9-11).

“Whatever is honorable” 

Do our thoughts honor others or demean them? Chrysta Bairre, a career coach, wrote 19 Ways to Honor Someone: “Pay a compliment, Treat others with respect, Be understanding, Be patient, Ask questions, Challenge assumptions, Overlook mistakes, Forgive, Show compassion, Celebrate accomplishments, Cheer someone on, Listen, Encourage, Learn from others, Help others, Find common ground, Appreciate your differences, Accept help, Be open- open your heart, open your eyes, open your mind.” If we fill our minds with ways to honor others, they will crowd out a critical, demeaning spirit.

“Whatever is right” 

Do my thoughts lead me to what is right or to do wrong? The enemy of our souls targets our minds with every unrighteous thought and attitude. He tempts us through our senses to live independently from God and follow our fleshly desires, which leads to destruction. The other day a Sunday school song ran through my mind, “Be careful little eyes what you see… there’s a Father up above looking down in tender love….” It continues about being careful what we hear, where we go, and what we do. I added, “Be careful what you think and what you love.”

“Whatever is pure”

Are my thoughts pure? God sees our hearts and knows the motive behind our actions. On the outside, our actions may appear righteous and honorable. Ulterior motives, selfish ambitions, and unwholesome imaginations often hide beneath self-righteous robes. When a thought floats through my mind, I need to question if it glorifies God and edifies others. If not, it needs to hit the trash bin! Titus says, “Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good (Tit 2:13-14). How important to think pure thoughts since we are not our own but bought at the highest price in the universe. 

“Whatever is lovely”

Is this thought lovely? Does it lead me to adore my Lord Jesus, who captivates my heart? Or does this thought draw me away and distract me from the Lovely One. Do the world’s attractions and distractions take more of my headspace and heart affections than my Savior Redeemer? Do I consider this world more lovely than the Son of God? Do I desire praise, human perfection, power, or pleasure more than I delight in a growing relationship with God and His Word? In the Song of Solomon, the bride praises her lover and tells the daughters of Jerusalem, “His mouth is sweetness itself; he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, this is my friend” (Sng 5:16).

“Whatever is admirable”

What or who do I admire? I just read an article on leadership by Paloma Cantero-Gomez called The Top 10 Characteristics Of Highly Admired People. She expertly reveals that highly admired people’s characteristics are not “their money, glamorous cars, lovely holidays, pretty faces, or luxurious houses.” Instead, the character qualities of humility, ability to learn in life-changing ways, integrity, responsibility, resilience, compassion for others, respect for others, visualizers, inspiring others, and the flexibility of those who do not let circumstances determine their lives. What a great list of admirable things on which to focus our minds! 

“Whatever is virtuous”

Virtuous thoughts give us a heavenly perspective. Virtue, by definition, is moral excellence and the ability to tell right from wrong. As believers, we know our virtues come only through the power of the indwelling Spirit of God within us and produce the fruit of the Spirit. “The Holy Spirit produces this kind of virtuous fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. gentleness, and self-control” (Gal 5:22-23). by walking in the Spirit, rather than by our fleshly desires, these virtues flow from the inside out. May our thoughts reflect the presence of the Holy Spirit within us.

“Whatever is praiseworthy”

How much easier to criticize and tear down in this world of broken people. Yet God calls us to “Encourage one another and build each other up” (1Th 5:11). We celebrate a lot of birthdays in my daughter’s household with their eight children. One tradition they developed is the “hotseat” for the birthday person, which means everyone shares something about that person they count worthy of praise. We find it a great exercise in thinking of things praiseworthy in each person. It also makes each person want to live up to those words.

One day, God will bring an end to this battle for the mind. Every thought will focus on truth, honor, righteousness, purity, loveliness, admiration, virtue, and praise. But until then, the person who walks in the power of the Holy Spirit has the mind of Christ (see 1Co 2:15-16).

As the election results play out, we feel the anxiety of what may or may not happen. This winter, the ongoing Covid-19 tempts us to despair. These evil times torment our souls, as they did Lot in Sodom. Yet let us run to Jesus and fix our eyes on Him, who is able to keep us from falling and to present us before His glorious presence without fault and great joy (Jude v 24).