Sunday, April 6, 2025
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ~ Philippians 4:8
Written by Rev. Dr. Mike Hegeman | Associate Pastor
I used to think that the phrase “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop” came from the Bible. It doesn’t. Not even the phrase “idle hands are the devil’s workshop” comes from the Bible. The latter is a paraphrase of Proverbs 16:27, which reads, “Scoundrels concoct evil, and their speech is like a scorching fire.” I guess, anytime I’m in “idle” mode mentally, I could potentially end up “concocting evil,” but what I find more true is that I spend a lot of time worrying. That’s what my idle mind does.
This scripture encourages us all to stay away from unproductive mental idleness and to think about “whatever is true, and honorable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent and praiseworthy.” I find it isn’t easy to train my mind to stay focused on what is good in this world, but I hear this text as a calling to shift from worry to trusting praise.
My first Bible was an RSV translation I received at the end of the fifth grade from the Carter Memorial United Methodist Church in Needham, MA. When I pull that one off the shelf, it is full of little pieces of paper with “love notes” stuck between the pages. These love notes are scriptures that “leapt off the page” and I wanted to remember.
Prayer: Lord God, keep my mind “stayed on you.” Amen.