Red Balloons (Phil 4:8-9)

Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV)
⁸ Finally, brothers, 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. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

I remember a psychology professor speaking once and saying to the class.  “I want you to do something.  I want you to not think about red balloons.  Don’t think about red balloons!  Stop thinking about red balloons!  Think about purple elephants!”  When he was saying don’t think about red balloons it was all we could think of.  It is hard to put a picture out of your head.  It was instantly gone however when he said “think about purple elephants.”  His point was you need something to replace what you are trying not to think about.    In Philippians, after putting our fights problems and anxieties into perspective (see last blog).  Paul doesn’t leave us with only “Don’t think about your anxieties!  Don’t think about your fights! Don’t think about your problems!”  He gives us what we should be thinking about.  A whole list of things that are way better for us than the things we can’t control.  Jesus said:

Luke 12:25-26 (NIV)
²⁵ Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? ²⁶ Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

It is one thing to know that, but another to not worry.  Many of you may have heard me say “Many Christians say they have difficulty meditating but we all know how.  If you know how to worry you know how to meditate.  Worrying is just thinking about the same thing over and over again.  So is meditating you just have to change what you are thinking about.”  (That isn’t an original thought.  I wish I could give credit but I can’t remember where I heard it.)  Paul gives us some things to think about instead.  Whenever I am worried about something I try to remember that.  You can’t just put the red balloon out of you mind - you need something to replace it with.

“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.”

- Mark Wallace

PS.  When I was looking for a picture of a purple elephant I found it on this blog: 

http://danishdoll.xanga.com/720639477/purple-elephant-thoughts/

  Same verse similar thoughts.  There is nothing new under the sun.