If Anything is Excellent

Have you ever read a Bible verse and said ahhh! I get that but then it turns out later that you didn't get it at all?  All month on my desktop calendar I have read Phillippians 4:8:

...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.

I thought I understood what it meant, and perhaps I did at the surface level.  But the TRUE meaning did not come to me until I read this blog by Julie @ Come Have A Peace.  Go read it, I'll wait!

You're back... cool!  This blog really touched my spirit because I have always though of myself as a positive person.  However when I think back over the more recent conversations I've had with my husband, my children, my friends, with others about my children and husband... I've realized that I have NOT been positive at all.  I've been harping on their so-called "failures" rather than focusing on what is excellent or praiseworthy.  Talk about a knock in the head!!!

Rather than saying, he works too much, he's never home... I should have been saying, I'm so thankful I have a hard working husband.  Rather than saying "arent' you upset you didn't play in that game" I should have been saying, "I'm so proud of the way you encouraged the players on the court.  That really showed true team spirit!" Think of what is praiseworthy, what is excellent. What a concept! I love the way the Message Bible puts it:

Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.

I just love the understanding that God has given me, through Julie's post and of course, through His Word!  Is there anything that you've read lately that has given you a "light bulb" moment? 

Dear Lord,

I thank You Lord for your understanding and patience with me. I have not been true to Your Word, to look at the best, not the worse, to look for things worthy of praise, not the negative, to promote the peace that is so evident in the Word that you have given me.  I humbly come before You, asking for forgiveness and praying that you will give me wisdom on these things going forward.  In the name of your precious Son, Jesus Amen!

Love and Blessings!
Margaret