By Nancy Virden (c)2026 AlwaysTheFight.com

Myriad ideas abound about how to experience peace. Breathe. Practice self-care. Live one day at a time. Think on the positive comes closest but yet falls short of what I have found brings and establishes peace in my mind.

Our thoughts control so much of what we feel. Dwelling on negative scenarios fuels stress, while unforgiveness deepens resentment and anger over time. On the other hand, the Bible offers another idea: Fix your thoughts.

Fix them? In this context, “fix” means to focus, to set them in a certain direction and to keep them there. Philippians 4: 8 reads, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. 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.”

The first admonition is to think on what is true. How often do we go down rabbit trails in our imagination? She said this and must have meant…, or I cannot perform that duty, I will fail. The first rule of cognitive and behavioral improvement is to look for the evidence of what is true.

Is it true that your life is worthless? Have you done worthwhile things? Does someone or a pet love you? Then the evidence points to your life having meaning even if it is difficult to see right now.

Is it true that everyone hates you? Do you or have you ever had a friend? Then the evidence suggests that not everyone hates you and it is worth developing those potentially positive relationships.

You see how it works. Challenge the false negative assumptions and fix your thoughts on what is true.

One true thought is this: God loves you and His love never fails. No qualification there about how you must feel.

-COMMENTS WELCOME

Today’s Helpful Word

Philippians 4:6-9 

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. 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. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

If you are feeling suicidal or concerned about someone who is, in the U.S., call 988, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. For a list of international suicide hotlines, go here.

If you are suicidal with a plan, immediately call 911 in the U.S. or go to your nearest emergency room; in the EU, call 112. (For other international emergency numbers, go here.) Hope and help are yours!

Always the Fight Ministries (ATFM) has been displaying compassion for those fighting mental illness, addiction, or abuse since 2012. Nancy is the founder and voice of ATFM and openly shares her emotional resurrection from despair. 

NOTE: Nancy is not a doctor or a mental health professional and speaks only from personal experience and observations. This website is not intended to substitute for professional mental or behavioral health care.

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