If
A Five Minute Friday Challenge
I'm a daughter of the King of Kings, wife, and mother of 2 lovely young adult daughters. Focusing upward on Jesus.
I was struck afresh with a passage in Philippians 4. There is a list of "whatever is..." statements.
"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." (verse 8 NIV)
It was part of my regular First 5 reading for the day. (And I just learned that "if" was the word for the week for Five Minute Friday).
As I was pondering, I got to thinking about the "what ifs" that at times have consumed me. "What if the storm comes, what if we don't have enough money, what if I get sick, what if she doesn't like me..." Sometimes I get stuck and list goes on, ad nauseam.
But, when I looked at this passage again, I realized these were "whatever" statements and not "what if" statements.
What ifs...are negative. Whatevers...are positive!
What if...brings worry and doubt. Whatevers bring life!
The Lord challenged me to dwell on the "whatever" because the end result is finding the things that are excellent and praiseworthy!! What a "game" and attitude changer!
I've been reading a lot in The Passion Translation lately and I love this passage. May you be blessed as well:
"Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell Him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ. So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising Him always. Follow the example of all that we have imparted to you and the God of peace will be with you in all things." (Phil. 4:6-9, TPT)
Which "what if..." statement do you need to let go of in order to grasp the "whatever" and the excellent and the praiseworthy?
This post is part of Kate Motaung's "Five Minute Friday," which she hosts on the Five Minute Friday website. Kate posts a single word each week and each blogger sets a timer for 5 minutes to write and then posts, with very little editing. Check out the other writers this week!
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