Philippians 4:8, "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."

Think

Let's talk about secrets for a minute, you know, those things we actively try to hide to protect ourselves or others. Secrets are dark, mysterious, and alluring. But when they surface, we can see them for what they truly are - illusions, deceptions, and tricks. "Secrets aren't really harmful to others." "What people don't know can't hurt them, right?" Even if what we're hiding is harmful to us, we'll use just about any excuse possible to justify it. That's why, by nature, secrets demand to be dealt with. But, here's the thing: secrets are often symptomatic of deeper issues, such as the inability to grasp our God-given self-worth. As we harbor deception, the enemy inundates our minds with negative self-talk. Yes, negative thoughts will inevitably pop into our heads. But, the moment they do, we can make one of two choices: cling to them and replay them in our minds, or think about what is... True. What does God say about me? Pure. What are God's motives toward me? Worthy of praise. What has God done for me to prove His faithfulness? When we move our thoughts in a new direction - one framed by what God says about us - the voice in our head changes. This clarity helps us move from the deception of darkness into the truth of God's light.

Act

What secret self-talk do you use? With that in mind, click "Read More" below to read Philippians 4:4-9. Now, challenge yourself to instead think about what is true, pure, and worthy of praise. If that's hard for you, why?

Pray

Dear Lord, Guide my thoughts to think about what is true, pure, and worthy of praise. Guard my heart and mind against negative self-talk. Today, I choose to believe who You say I am, nothing more and nothing less. In Jesus' name, Amen.