It’s easy to dwell on the negative when life is hard, disappointing, or painful. That’s why it’s so important to follow this verse of instruction; it’s here to help us through the tough times and appreciate the great moments.
When Satan wants to get to you, he will often start with lies and condemnation whispered into your mind until you (maybe not even realizing Satan was doing so) start to believe them and then react with despair, sadness, anger, or any other thing that seeks to separate you from The Love of God.
But with this verse, Paul gave a way to combat Satan’s efforts. We are to feed our minds with blessings from God and the good things we can find in our lives or situations. We are to think about what is true rather than the lies Satan would have us believe. We are to dwell on what is noble and right so our actions will follow our thoughts. We are to feed our minds with whatever is pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy—all the things that help us stay focused on God’s Love for us and Christ’s sacrifice for us.
This radical way of filling our minds with truth and all good things is a challenge, especially during the most trying times. But as we actively practice this, even in the most difficult moments, we can fight painful situations, trials, and all the difficult things we face. It’s a way to reclaim and live out our lives with love, hope, faith, and gratefulness in the full blessings and Love of God.