No More Stinkin' Thinkin'!

It's been two weeks since my last post. That's because my family arrived in Houston in mid-June after five months of me being in southeast Texas and my wife being in northwest Indiana. As the Peaches & Herb song goes, we're "reunited and it feels so good."


I've been reading Paul's letter to the Philippians, which is often referred to as the Epistle of Joy. In this missive we find the familiar words "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Phil. 4:4)

It is noted by commentators that Paul wrote these words while under arrest in Rome. He reminds his readers that he is "in chains." While in custody he hears that some are preaching about Jesus out of envy and selfish ambition, hoping to stir up trouble for Paul while he is unable to defend himself.

Nevertheless, Paul rejoices.

How can he do that? How can he not be angry or depressed? Why is he able to rejoice and have joy?

It's because Paul knows that joy is not a matter of emotions. Joy is rooted in the assurance that Jesus is Lord and is working for good even through Paul's imprisonment. Paul know that his joy depends not on how he feels but rather in how he thinks.

In chapter 2, Paul urges his readers to think like Jesus thought. In chapter 4, he exhorts them to fix their thoughts on the things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.

In other words, as the sainted Millie Anderson would say, no more "stinkin' thinkin'!" That's what she would call negative and unproductive thoughts that would get in a person's way -- stinkin' thinkin'.

Satan, the father of lies, is also the father of stinkin' thinkin'. He wants nothing more than to neutralize the body of Christ by trapping us in his deceptions. Stinkin' thinkin' is when we accept his lies and forget that God "began a good work in you [and] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Phil. 1:6). It's when we forget that "everything [is] a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:8).

When we are sinking into dark thoughts and foul moods, Paul would have us remember Jesus, the one who is genuinely " true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy." Paul would urge us to resist and rebuke Satan and his lies. He would challenge us to stand firm in faith and cry out against the enemy in defiance: "No more stinkin' thinkin'!!"