Think About What is True

Whatsoever Things are True

If you have read my writing very long you will know that I peel off my skin and let you see my heart. Maybe I reveal too much, but I want you to know the struggles I face and maybe learn lessons easier than I have had to learn them. This morning I looked at a verse, Philippians 4:8, that I had made the children in my Jr. Church memorize years ago. Of course, in making them memorize, I had to memorize it too. There are very good principles for life stated in this Scripture, whether you are a believer or not. I want to break each of these principles down over the next few days.

The verse begins:
“Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true…Think on these things.”

Most of my life I have struggled with my self-concept. If I felt confident, I thought I was being arrogant. If I had low self-esteem, I fell into deep depression. (That is the place I found myself in more often than not.) I also had a vivid imagination. This is good to have as a writer, only, the imaginings delved into what I thought other people thought of me. I usually imagined that their opinion of me was more toward the negative side.

I finally had to take a long, hard look at myself. Was I arrogant? Was I worthless? Was I somewhere in-between? I had to find out what the truth was. I found out that I am worth knowing. I am a loyal friend and I love my family to a fault. I could go on, but…

Since “Nan’s Journey” was published and released this year I have been up and down with my emotions. I find myself worrying about things like: Are the sales numbers are good enough? Will people accept it? Am I doing the right promotions? The list goes on.
Reading the emails and letters that are sent to me from readers has pulled me out of some of the times when I doubted myself. When I get into these anxious moods or emotions, I have to sit myself down and ask, “What is true?” When I answer that question honestly, I know that everything is going to be alright.

I want you to think for a minute. What is true about you? What is true about your situation or challenge you are facing right now? This time next week, month, year, decade… will it be as threatening to you as it is now? If it will, don’t be afraid to get some help. You need it. If it is like most things, it will dissipate over time. Just hang on. If there are things you need to change, work on it. Trust in God. You will make it.

Join me in journaling the discoveries you make in our look at this verse.

Webster’s definition of “true” or “truth” – “Being consistent with reality or fact. Reality: actuality.”