I’m not sure how or why it happened, but for some reason, these two verses have largely been cut off from the context in which they were first written and have become some sort of personal roadmap to Christian positive thinking. Tonight, as we discuss this passage I want us to know from the beginning that Paul is absolutely not endorsing or teaching the power of positive thinking. Rather Paul is, making his final call to unity, humility and reconciliation within the church in Philippi. He is still speaking to Euodia and Syntyche, he’s still speaking to the “trusted companion” or “loyal yokefellow” that he has implored to “help these women” and he’s still speaking to the entire congregation. This is not simply the closing thoughts of his letter, they are the summation of his call to conflict resolution and unity. Paul is not unaware that we often have no control over the fleeting thoughts that come and go but he is teaching that we have the power to determine which thoughts we entertain, dwell on and act from. This decision, what we meditate and dwell on, largely determines the health of our relationships and our consistent awareness of God’s constant presence. We believe that God is always with us, Jesus said “I am with you always even to the end of the age.” Moses told Joshua that God “would never leave you nor forsake you” and then Hebrews 13:5 makes that promise to Joshua a promise that has been extended to all of us. God is always with us and yet we are often unaware or unsure of God’s presence, I believe that Paul is revealing that the disconnect between what God says is true and what we believe in the moment is found in which “things” we choose to “think on”.