I remember the time when one character on a favorite TV detective show advised another to, “close your eyes and think of all the good things,” whenever he was feeling lost and alone. Although he didn’t cite chapter and verse, this character was echoing sound biblical advice:

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.

Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

Those of us in the real world of today would do well to take this to heart, memorizing each word, and calling it to mind as we are assaulted by the evil in our culture.

If we dwell overmuch on the horrors of each day’s news, we may succumb to despair and feel truly lost and alone. Keeping in mind those things which are true, pure, right, holy, and proper helps us to strengthen our faith and hopes for tomorrow.

While the TV character I watched didn’t quote the following, he seemed to believe it:

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)

The days ahead may be filled with turmoil. Let’s set our hearts and minds on truth, so we may overcome.