Word GamesSample

Day 2
Words That Shape

Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
– Philippians 4:8b (NLT)

What’s your favorite movie? Your favorite TV show? Your favorite book? Your favorite podcast? Your favorite social media account?

All these examples are things that influence you with words and images. Every day, we see and hear so many things. And the things we take in through our eyes and ears affect our thoughts and feelings. They affect how we see ourselves and everyone else.

The world is full of words and messages all around us every day. We get them from family, friends, coworkers, videos, songs, TV shows, books, movies, podcasts, games, and more! Over time, these words shape us into the people we are. The words we see and hear shape our thoughts, beliefs, and actions.

Here's the thing. Some of the messages we see and hear are good for us. They are true. They help us grow. They teach us about life. They bring joy. But some of the messages we see and hear are not good for us. They’re lies. They hurt us. They turn us into people we don’t want to be.

We have a choice whether or not to pay attention to a lot of the messages we see and hear. If you notice you feel really down after watching a certain show, you can stop watching it. If you know a song speaks about other people inappropriately, you can stop listening to it. If a podcast is starting to alter your perspective in a negative way, you can find a different one to listen to.

You can do your best to guard yourself against harmful messages, but you can also chase after good messages. You can find books, TV shows, and podcasts that teach you about something you’re really interested in or that tell really good stories. You can listen to music that praises God. You can find a Bible teacher you like to learn from.

There’s a Bible verse that says, “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (Philippians 4:8)

Think about some of your favorites from earlier. Would you call your favorites true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or worthy of praise? The Bible says those are the kinds of things we need to fill our minds with. Those are the words and messages we need to listen to.

There’s another Bible verse that says this: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

If you want to follow God, you can’t just go along with the messages everyone else is listening to. Instead, God wants to transform you—starting with your thoughts. We should think critically about the messages we take in each day and be intentional about seeking truth and goodness. If we choose to be shaped by words and messages that honor God, we will learn more about the life God wants us to live.

Reflect: Am I intentional about the messages I let influence my thoughts?