Excellent or Praiseworthy

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In a quest for respite from world news, I’m adopting Philippians 4:8 as my verse of 2025.

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.

Just letting those words trip off my tongue lifts my spirits and begins to restore my equilibrium. It brings to mind countless everyday acts of kindness that fail to make our headlines: scientists, musicians and athletes striving for excellence in their craft; nurses, carers and aid workers serving the basic needs of others; daily evidence of God’s grace in the simple joys of life. Every moment of every day, instances of truth, nobility, rightness, purity, loveliness and excellence are available to us if we turn our attention to them.

Most of all, this verse turns my thoughts to Christ, whose life on earth fully embodied these divine attributes; Christ, ‘the way, the truth, the life.’

I’m creating a collage inspired by these words as a visual aid to prompt me to look up, look out and look forward and to ‘think about such things.’ Pictures next month!

If you have strategies for lifting your mind and mood, please share in the comments.