Phil 4:8 (NIV) Finally, brothers, 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 about such things.

The more you study the Bible, the more truth you provide your mind to be able to base your thinking on. The Bible becomes a filter for Jesus to use to help you evaluate thoughts that try to come into your mind. If the Bible demonstrates that something isn’t true, then Jesus will empower you to keep yourself from falling for that concept. 2 Tim 2:15 (AKJV) Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Tim 3:16-17 (NIV) All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. What is always true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy? The Bible! As you get more and more proficient in the Bible, it literally lays out Jesus’ strategy for running your life. Instead of just keeping wrong things out, it becomes the right thing to make your decisions from.

The Bible doesn’t always look like it addresses all the things you face; but, it does. It is just a matter of you getting better at learning how to use it. Once Philipians 4:8 steers your attention to the truths of God’s Word, Jesus will show you a pattern. Words can’t describe how much of a solution comes your way when you start thinking Biblically.

Rom 1:28 (NIV) Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the KNOWLEDGE of God, He gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. How do you retain the knowledge of God? Psa 119:11 (NIV) I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You. The difficult part of study, changing, being trained, and growing spiritually has to do with your being interested and being able to focus. Jesus gives you eight things that will motivate you to grow in Biblical knowledge and power.

Mat 5:3 (NIV) Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. What opens the door to your mind and heart so they are willing to learn, be trained, listen to Jesus as He instructs you? Praying and asking Jesus to give you God’s power-attitude of being poor in spirit will set you free from pride, a know-it-all attitude, being resistive to new information, and lacking an interest in spiritual things. This is just a door, it isn’t the power of Biblical information. It just opens the doors of you mind and heart so they become receptive to truth. As Jesus’ truths start flowing through this door, you are empowered to think Philippians 4:8 thoughts.

Mat 5:4 (NIV) Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. What opens the door and allows all that world training out of your mind and heart so there will be room for Jesus’ teachings? Praying and asking for God’s power-attitude of mourning will help you feel sorrow for all the damage each individual item of world training did to you and those around you.

Mourning helps your repent (make a U-turn) and tell God you are sorry for all those things you allowed in your life. Mouring gives you a very negative feeling toward things you used to love and embrace. It is God’s power-attitude that creates the HATE described in Romans 7:15: Rom 7:15 (NIV) I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I HATE I do.

Mat 5:5 (NIV) Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Meekness isn’t a shy, bashful, timid, and self-doubting person. It doesn’t have anything to do with that. When you realize you can’t repair something and call in a professional, that is being meek. When you realized you couldn’t fix your issues with spending, that was the moment you started yielding to God’s power-attitude of meekness. It opens the doors of your mind and heart by giving you a willingness to turn the whole thing over to God and consider Him your final authority on how to live life. Pray and ask Jesus to empower you with meekness.

Mat 5:6 (NIV) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Hunger and thirst is a hole, a need, an open door into your life. It is the opposite of being full; you are empty and are deeply desiring spiritual food and water to fill you. When you were stuffed full of world training, you didn’t have room for Jesus’ training.

Now, let Jesus show you how all this ties together: Being poor in spirit makes you teachable and responsive to truth. Mourning empowers you to let world training go. Meekness opens you heart and mind to the qualifications of God. And now, you need to pray and ASK Jesus to put a deep hunger and thirst for the righteousness of God in you. Righteousness is for you to only do good things to yourself, other people, and God’s plan.

Mat 5:7 (NIV) Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Mercy is a part of the “giving” foundational Scripture in Luke 6:38. You can only GIVE mercy to people who don’t deserve it. You will never get an opportunity to GIVE mercy until you are faced with a person who does not deserve it. Mercy is not punishing someone for something they deserve retaliation, punishment, revenge, or imprisonment for. Pray and ask Jesus to give you God’s power-attitude of mercy and that will set you up for giving and getting mercy.

Mat 5:8 (NIV) Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. First, you have to understand the incredible problem of your heart: Jer 17:9 (NIV) The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? Your heart has been fooling you for years; it has caused you to believe you had pure motives when IT was actually using people. IT wouldn’t let you help anyone without IT demanding appreciation from them. IT always had a hidden agenda when it encouraged you to do nice things for others.

Pray and ASK Jesus to give you God’s power-attitude of being pure in heart. You will experience a complete change of motivations for why you do what you do. This will open the door for you to do righteous things; but, you will be getting rewards in heaven for doing them. Mat 6:2 (NIV) So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

Mat 5:9 (NIV) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. John 14:27 (NIV) Peace I leave with you; MY PEACE I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. This opens the door for Jesus’ peace to flow in you like a river. Then as you open your heart and allow God’s power-attitude of peace to flow out of you, then the way you treat people will bring peace to them. Pray and ask Jesus to pour His peace in you so you can start living the life of a peacemaker.

Mat 5:10-12 (NIV) Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. This is the biggest gift you will be giving; this power-attitude from God gives you the ability of lay your reputation, your safety, you value, and your life on the line for those who do not know Jesus and His salvation. Pray and ask Jesus to empower you with God’s power-attitude of being willing to be persecuted for Jesus.