Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)
Peace is not blankness of mind. It is not the absence of all thought and reasoning. It is not a hypnotic state achieved by emptying your mind, as some believe. True peace is not the result of mental disconnection from reality. Peace is the fruit of a mind intentionally filled with the right thoughts.
After telling us how to obtain the peace of God that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:6–7), Paul gives the Philippian church practical instructions for maintaining that peace. He urges them to set their minds on the right thing and lists eight criteria for those thoughts:
True – Unchanging, reliable, and rooted in God’s reality (John 17:17).
Noble – Honorable and worthy of reverence (Psalm 119:72, Proverbs 8:6).
Just – Fair, impartial, and aligned with God’s righteousness (Psalm 119:138).
Pure – Uncorrupted and morally clean (Psalm 19:8-9).
Lovely – Pleasing and admirable, drawing the heart to love (Psalm 119:97)
Of Good Report – In harmony with God’s will and worthy of commendation.
Virtuous – Possessing moral excellence and power to produce good (Psalm 19:7).
Praiseworthy – Worthy of praise and producing praise in others.
When you deeply consider these eight, you discover that only the word of God meets them all.
Peace (or the lack of it) reveals what your mind is full of (Isaiah 26:3). A mind focused on negative thoughts and circumstances will naturally produce anxiety. But a mind stayed on God’s word and promises will be still, strong, and unshaken.
The way to keep your mind stayed on the word is through meditation. Not passive thinking, but active, intentional, repeated reflection on what God has said. Meditation means turning the truth over in your mind, speaking it out, and bringing it back ito mind consistently (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2–3).
For the peace of God to remain, your mind cannot be empty. You must fill it with the living Word, and keep it full of it.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for giving me Your peace. Help me to guard my heart by filling it with Your truth. Help me to meditate daily on what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy. Help me to store Your word richly in me so that Your peace overflows in every situation. Amen.
Reflect & Act:
Pay attention to the thoughts that fill your mind. Do they meet the Philippians 4:8 standard?
Replace one anxious or negative thought today with a specific promise from God’s Word. Choose one verse of scripture and meditate on it morning and night.
Memorise Philippians 4:8