Practicing Hesed (5): Cerebral Smiles

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8

Lovely – Mona Lisa’s smile? No, not quite. And it’s not about a magnificent sunset over the Pacific Ocean or Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony or Michelangelo’s David. “Lovely” has an entirely different sense when we look at the Greek.

Prosphiles reveals the true meaning. Its building blocks are pros (to, toward) and phileo (love of a friend, someone dear). Paul is not telling us to go to the Louvre and contemplate Rembrandt’s paintings (although that probably would be a good thing to do). He is telling us to think deeply about the things that are pleasing to a dear friend, and, in particular, the dearest of friends, Jesus. “Whatever is lovely” is a way of saying, “whatever makes Jesus smile.”

Is that what you think about? Do your thoughts make Jesus smile? Are they so near and dear to His heart that He is overjoyed to discover them tucked away in your mind? We would expect Paul to take this approach. After all, he is the one who said that we are being transformed by the renewing of our minds. Your thoughts matter – to you and to your Friend.

Most of us don’t spend much time on the discipline of thought. In general, human beings are externally oriented. We put a lot of effort into the discipline of the body, the environment and circumstances, but we let our minds run where they will. Mental discipline escapes us. Why? Because training the mind is much more difficult work. Mental muscle takes study and concentration. But few people get pay raises or wall plaques or trophies for mental discipline. The rewards are invisible to human eyes. So we allow cerebral laziness. We think about whatever comes along.

Paul exhorts us to develop cognitive filtration.

Would you like a test of your prosphiles? Reflect on your prayer life. When you are before the Lord in silent prayer, do you find your mind jumping from thought to thought, wandering along scattered images? Are your silent prayers laced with distractions, interruptions and tangents? If you’re like most people, you find silent prayer incredibly difficult. Now you know why we need the discipline of cerebral smiles.

“Lord Jesus, help me dwell on the thoughts that make You smile. Let my thoughts follow Yours.”