Philippians 4:8 NLT
Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
My husband built a shop. He is currently adding windows and siding. I am eager to help him, but my skill set in construction is limited. Therefore, I “go-fer,” hand him a lot of things, and hold the ladder. This leaves my mind with time to think. I pray about things, people, situations, and mostly my husband’s safety. Sometimes, I make up new stories in my mind, but inevitably I will go down a rabbit hole of remembering. I rehash times I wish I had been a better wife, mother, or friend, and have to remind myself to “Let Go, Let God.” I cannot change the past, and I have repented certain things so many times that I wonder if God says, “Ugh…this again?” But that isn’t nearly as destructive as when I rehash times I feel I’ve been offended or believe I been wronged. My husband’s mind is on creating, building, and solving problems on the fly, when suddenly his request for a certain tool is followed up with, terse, “Here!” slightly dusted with hostility. He has no idea that I am chastising him for something he said ten years ago! His bewilderment immediately reminds me that I need to quickly peel myself out of the past, apply the Philippians 4:8 litmus test, and, “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
![Psalm 103:2-5 Good News Translation 2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and do not forget how kind he is. 3 He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. 4 He keeps me from the grave and blesses me with love and mercy. 5 He fills my life[a] with good things, so that I stay young and strong like an eagle. a bald eagle is perched in the dead top of a tall pine tree against a blue sky surrounded by the green of other trees](https://i0.wp.com/momentzwithmary.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TextOnPhotos2_5_2024_12_53_21_PMreal.jpg?fit=473%2C630&ssl=1)
