"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 praisewrothy-think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV)

God's Word does not tell us to think on whatever reminds us of our past, of failures or whatever is untrue. We've all heard the saying, you are what you eat. The same applies to our thoughts, you are what you think. If we constantly allow negative thoughts, past failures and mistakes to occupy our mind and stay there, then our actions will be molded and shaped by our thoughts. We can think our self defeated or victorious; failures or conquerors; unimportant or the apple of God's eye. We have the ability to control what we think. It just takes practice. The Message Bible says it this way - let us put into practice to think the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. We know practice means to perform or work at something repeatedly until it becomes habitual - and practice makes perfect. Not perfect as in complete, but perfect in our ability to choose to think healthy thoughts. So starve your mind of the negative and everything that is excellent or praiseworthy - think those things. You can do it! It just takes practice.