Spiritual Practices for Writers: The Practice of Thinking Excellent Thoughts

From Edie: Christian writers are called to think on what is true, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy. Discover how Philippians 4:8 shapes your thoughts and your words.

Spiritual Practices for Writers: The Practice of Thinking Excellent Thoughts

by Audre Frank @AudreyCFrank

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things (Philippians 4:8).

The word popcorn blinked at me from the browser window, casting flickers across the dark living room wall. I was up late in a country far from home, feeling grouchy because there was no popcorn to be found for my VPN-allowed streaming movie. (A VPN is a Virtual Private Network setting that allows a secure connection in places where the internet is anything but secure.) Why I chose to search for popcorn online when there was no Glovo or Instacart, I have no idea. Chalk it up to culture shock and homesickness after midnight.

The next day, I opened my laptop only to discover advertisements for loose-kernel popcorn, microwave popcorn, and air-poppers parading across the screen. To make my homesickness worse, the ads were all for Atlanta, Georgia, the address I’d selected for my VPN the night before. I was far from Atlanta and even farther from Walmart or Amazon.

When we fix our thoughts on something, more thoughts multiply and stick to us like cookies on a web browser. What we think about becomes more than just ideas. Thoughts become written words, articles, and blog posts. They morph into social media posts, books, and film scripts.

A scan of the written word in today’s world would lead one to believe that this is the standard many thinking-wordsmiths follow:

Finally, strangers and aliens, whatever is a lie, whatever is dishonorable, whatever is unjust, whatever is immoral, whatever is hideous, whatever is reprehensible, if something is inferior or disgraceful, think on these things.

Yet there is a force for change, an immense population of peacemakers and truth-tellers who have the power to turn the sickly tide. Writers who follow Jesus are given a standard of excellence, and with it, immeasurable potential to be instruments of peace in today’s tumult. Christian writers would do well to think on good things so that we might multiply goodness in the world through our words.

Want to write the truth? Commit your thoughts only to what is true. Want to be respected in the publishing world? Fix your thoughts on whatever is worthy of respect. Is justice your jam? Focus your mind on whatever is just. Have a passion for purity? Refuse to trash your mind with sub-par entertainment. Whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think on these things… and write!

Think excellent thoughts and write excellent words today, dear writer.

Lord, I choose today to think on whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, excellent, or praiseworthy. Sanctify my mind and my words in Jesus’ name, and for His glory. Amen.

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Spiritual Practices for Writers: The Practice of Thinking Excellent Thoughts from @AudreyCFrank on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Don't Miss The Other Spiritual Practices for Writers!

JANUARY: THE PRACTICE OF PLANNING
FEBRUARY: THE PRACTICE OF TRUSTING
MARCH: THE PRACTICE OF HOPING
APRIL: THE PRACTICE OF WAITING
MAY: THE PRACTICE OF DISCIPLINE
JUNE: THE PRACTICE OF PERSEVERANCE
JULY: THE PRACTICE OF PROCLAIMING
AUGUST: THE PRACTICE OF HUMILITY
SEPTEMBER: THE PRACTICE OF WORK
OCTOBER: THE PRACTICE OF THINKING EXCELLENT THOUGHTS

Audrey Frank is an author, speaker, and storyteller. The stories she shares are brave and true. They give voice to those whose words are silenced by shame, the hard things in life that don’t make sense, and the losses that leave us wondering if we will survive. Audrey and her family have spent over twenty years living and working among different cultures and world views, and she has found that God’s story of redemption spans every geography and culture. He is the God of Instead, giving honor instead of shame, gladness instead of mourning, hope instead of despair. Although she has three different degrees in communication and intercultural studies, Audrey’s greatest credential is that she is known and loved by the One who made her.

Audrey is the author of Covered Glory: The Face of Honor and Shame in the Muslim World (Harvest House Publishers), an outpouring of Audrey’s heart to introduce others to the God of Instead. Shame is not unique to the developing world, the plight of the women behind veils, young girls trafficked across borders; shame is lurking in hearts everywhere. Through powerful stories from women around the world, Covered Glory illuminates the power of the Gospel to remove shame, giving honor instead. Available at favorite booksellers: BARNES & NOBLE, BOOKS A MILLION, AMAZON.