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What are you thinking about? Philippians 4:8 offers some guidelines. 

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 On Theses Things.

Our character defects are displayed in our behavior, but they also show up in our thinking about ourselves, others, and situations.  The targets of our thinking, the responses to challenges, and conversations we have in our minds with others. The Xs.  

TOTTs give us a guideline to examine our thinking about the Xs.  

 We must think about what we are thinking about!

Faulty, non-praiseworthy thoughts can give rise to wrong behaviors. 

We are accountable to God for our thoughts, He hears every thought, so no fooling Him. 

What can we learn about the TOTTs examples of thoughts that are excellent and praiseworthy? 

True: right, genuine, reliable, honest, correct…or false, untrue, fake, bogus.  

Noble: gentle, honorable, uplifting…or inferior, ordinary, degrading, coarse, crude. 

Right: fair, just, genuine, real…or unfair, unjust wrong, assuming. 

Pure: absolute, uncorrupted, clean, harmless…or soiled, corrupt, crude, obscene. 

Lovely: awesome, excellent, good, presentable…or unsatisfactory, awful, judging, offensive. 

Admirable: commendable, awesome, excellent, ethical, invaluable…or reprehensible, mean, vile, discrediting. 

Are we thinking thoughts that are excellent and praiseworthy? Are our thoughts attempts at control? Are they coming from pride? Is our flesh-self in charge? Our sin-nature? 

Do we need to repent, and humbly ask God for help? 

Scripture teaches that we are transformed, changed by the renewing of our minds. We must give Him the opportunity to change us. 

TOTTs give us a handy checklist or the means to take an inventory. 

Choices….