Three Questions:
1.  Who is/are your role model(s)?  What
2.  Where do you fall short of walking the thoughts and the talk?
3. Who is following you and do you want them to go where you’re heading?

Last week I wrote about thinking, about being conscious and aware of what goes on in our minds.  The apostle Paul, in the letter to the Phillipians instructs us to consider those things that are true, noble, right – good things.  That’s in verse 8.  Over the past 20+ years I think I’ve quoted that verse about a thousand times more than the one immediately following.  Verse 8 is beautiful, one of my favorites.  Verse 9 is one of the most difficult and arduous things imaginable – do it.

Paul says that as we think noble thoughts we are to do noble things.  We are to put into practice, he admonishes, those things we have seen him do or heard him say. Essentially, we’re not just to think good, we are to do good, do pure, do right.  Walking what we’re talking about; walking what we are thinking about.

When you add in verse 9 it presupposes someone in our life that has contributed to who we are and how we are.  It assumes there is (was) someone we could model ourselves after, we could follow behind and learn from. Who is that person in your life?  A parent, a friend, teacher or coach?  What did they do that made them that person for you? Do those things too.

I’ll also suggest (and here it adds a bit more pressure) that there is someone following us, or that there should be, and we should be thinking, walking and doing in such a way that our “followers” benefit from it.  Your friends, co-workers, spouse, and children – even the people driving next to you on the freeway are watching where you’re going. Consider these questions:

• Husbands/Wives, do you want your wife/husband to be thinking and doing what you are thinking and doing?
• Parents, do you want your children to be where you are when they grow up?
• Would you even want the people around you to know what you’re thinking?

If not, think and DO something about it.  It may be a slow process of change but pick one thing you’re not doing that you should and try and add it into your life.  Or, take out just one thing you’re doing that you should not be doing and get rid of it.  Pick small things first and get stronger.  As your success rate increases your confidence to take on the larger dos/don’ts will too.

Show up; keep it up.  We’re talking about long term changes.  If you miss one, get back and try again.  Don’t beat yourself up over it.  That’s why it’s called practice.  Make an inventory of YOU and what you’re trying to do.  Checklist are motivating when you see progress.

Don’t forget verse 9.

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. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. Phil. 4:8 AND 9