Following Jesus should change the way we think (Philippians 2:5-8), and as we think more like Jesus, we will learn to make the choices that please Him (Ephesians 5:10).  Choose to think about bad things and you will become shaped by evil desires (James 1:14-15).  Choose to think the way that Jesus thought, and you will start to see the world through His eyes.  ‘But’, I hear someone say, ‘surely you cannot control what you think!’  Oh yes you can!  Paul says so in this verse.

All kinds of thoughts do come to our minds.  Some are from God, and some from Satan; so we need to learn to distinguish the voice of the Holy Spirit from temptations or fleshly desires.  The Bible is our central reference point: if the Bible says it is wrong, it is.  If the Bible shows that God is pleased with it, He is.  Simple as that.  The important thing is to put our thoughts through a Biblical filter to identify what is godly and what is wicked.  When a bad thought comes we say, "I refuse to even think about it", and when a good thought arrives, say, "God will be pleased if I think about this".  Like this, we can train our minds to accept what the Bible approves, and reject what the Bible condemns.  

There are many lovely things to see and do in God's world (1 Chronicles 29:11).  Polluted, it may be, but there are still wonderful evidences of God's handiwork and character reflected in creation, people and the church.  Even the world of work has amazing examples of enterprise, energy, creativity, teamwork, negotiation and arbitration.  God's creative nature may well be expressed even through people who disown Him, but God is to be praised for every honest business deal, every scientific discovery and every elegant design.  

But in the same way that photographers train their eyes to see the picture before they press the button, Christians need to learn to recognise God's footprints all around them.  Look out for whatever is noble or true or honest or pure or lovely. When you see it, think about its value to God, to yourself, to others and to the world.  When you look at the world through the lens of the Bible, you will see hope despite despair, peace beyond war and love overcoming hate.  What you think about, will become a part of you; and you will become a part of Jesus' work in helping others and glorifying Himself.  Practise that kind of thinking today - it will excite your prayer life, motivate your service and mould your character.