It has been said, “What you think, you become.” I would go even further and say, “What you think, you are.” Your thoughts reflect your world and life view. They capture your emotions, form your behavioral patterns, and ultimately shape your very identity. The Bible puts it plainly: “For as [a man] thinks in his heart, so he is” (Prov 23:7, NASB). Inevitably, the things that make their home in our mind will reveal themselves in our actions. They will not be hidden forever. So, it is essential that we renew our mind (Rom 12:1-2), take every thought captive (2 Cor 10:5), and think about virtuous things.

But what is virtue? The word is rarely used anymore, unless you are reading something from a bygone era. What does this “archaic” word actually mean? It is important to have a rudimentary understanding of the word to understand the powerfully positive influence our thought life can have on our daily practices. Virtue reflects moral excellence. It further communicates an awareness of righteousness - in other words, what is right. Finally, it shows a concern for obedience to God’s holy standard and commandments. Not surprisingly, virtue is highly esteemed and mentioned as being worth pursuing by the Apostle Peter, who writes, “make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge” (2 Pet 1:5).

In Philippians 4:8-9, the Apostle Paul shares a series of virtuous traits that are to guide a believer’s thought patterns and capture his or her thinking. He writes:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me - practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

These verses come on the heels of Paul’s words regarding anxiety. In the preceding verses (Phil 4:6-7), the apostle encouraged the Philippian believers to “not be anxious about anything.” Instead, they are to take everything to the Lord in prayer with gratitude in their heart. According to Paul, this is the antidote to the anxiety that so often plagues and paralyzes us. Prayer, rooted in thanksgiving, brings God’s peace and guards our hearts and minds.

Paul’s assertion is important, because our minds are the battle ground for our souls. It is essential for us to focus on virtuous things, refusing to give our common enemy, the devil, a foothold. So, how do we dig our heels into the proverbial ground that is our mind? The apostle says that believers need to have a certain way of thinking. When he tells his readers to “think”, Paul is using a term that means to meditate, dwell on, or ponder something. This habit goes beyond the fleeting and fluttering fancies that come and go with every passing moment. It takes a hold of and maintains a strong grip on our thoughts, drawing them into our very being. It takes “every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Cor 10:5). Naturally, it then forms our actions. Therefore, the content of our thinking is important - it must be virtuous so it might lead to virtuous practices. It must be calculated, dwelling on things that are true, honorable and dignified, just and right, pure and wholesome, lovely and winsome, commendable and admirable, excellent and able to build up, as well as praiseworthy bringing honor to the Lord.

It makes sense then that our thoughts forge our practice. Paul formulates it this way: “ … think about these things… practice these things.” As our thoughts are captivated by virtuous reflection, our actions follow, being attracted to virtuous examples. In the case of the Philippians, Paul uses himself as their virtuous example. The influence of a Christ-like example cannot be overstated! Every Christian needs friendships and relationships through which they can learn how to grow, receive reminders of God’s gracious work, hear testimonies of godly character, and see lasting faithfulness. There are plenty of Christian brothers and sisters that can serve as godly models and mentors. Seek them out. Observe them closely. Talk to them regularly. And thank them often for their gospel-worthy life.

In the end, these words of Paul are more than a call to think and live virtuously, though they certainly do that. Similar to his appeal to pray with thanksgiving (Phil 4:6), Paul’s call to virtue is an invitation to experience one of God’s richest promises. As a matter of fact, God promises something priceless - the God of Peace, Himself! And there is nothing more reassuring and joy-giving than that!

Ephesians 4:17-24 (ESV) - “Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ! – assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”