more than just a pretty quote

are you a sucker for pretty, feel-good quotes? i am. i browse etsy looking for the perfect sign, wander around hobby lobby checking out the latest framed art, and always hit the like button when a quote pulls at my heartstrings from facebook or instagram. when i read a good quote, i have this hope that maybe life could be as simple as embracing the words before me. like this one…

whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious…think about these things. philippians 4:8

aren’t these whimsical words? true. honorable. just. pure. lovely. gracious. when i first read this verse, i thought, “this is it. a Bible verse i can really wrap my head around. it reminds me of noticing the LITTLE things. if i can just focus on these words, i will feel like i’ve done a good job for the day.” then the day started and there went that idea. within minutes, the words in this verse took a back seat to everything else that happened that day. have you been there?

it’s a tall order to focus on ALL of these things at once. but i love this verse. i want to live these words.

this past summer, i attended the she speaks conference. i met a friend who also had this verse on her list of favorites. as we discussed, i learned she had a much more realistic way of applying this verse to her everyday life. her approach was actually doable.

rather then setting out to DO and BE all of these words at once {and failing}, my friend explained that she turned the verse into questions she could ASK herself throughout the day. questions to redirect her thoughts and choices so that they better reflected God and His love.

her approach transformed the verse from whimsical words that warm the heart, to affirming words that ask for action.

when i am sick of picking up shoes, and toys, and coats, and food i can ask…

is this gracious?

when i am worried about the unknown, i can ask…

is this pure?

when i am in a rush and losing patience and starting to raise my voice, i can ask…

is this honorable?

when i look in the mirror and can only see tired or frumpy or a very bad hair day, i can ask…

is this true?

when i replay a conversation in my head, wishing i’d said something different, i can ask…

is this lovely?

when i am quick to judge someone, i can ask…

is this just?

there. see that? see what those simple questions can do for your life? redirection. a new focus. change. affirming words that ask for action. all wrapped up in a pretty, feel-good, bible verse. 

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