Think positive. This world is ugly—but don’t become a cynic or a brooder. That’s brilliant advice from one of history’s spiritual giants, the Apostle Paul. “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things,” he wrote (Philippians 4:8; Revised Standard Version). It’s one of the most helpful admonitions in Scripture about maintaining mental and spiritual health.
Take a glance around, and you see a world dead set on thinking the polar opposite. Whatever is foul or crooked, whatever is unjust and impure, whatever is grotesque, whatever is hateful, if there is any degeneracy, anything barbaric and evil, anything worthy of condemnation, that is what people tend to think on.
