I wouldn't say I'm a "coffee snob", but I sure do enjoy a cup early in the morning as I begin my daily routine. Recently as I was prepping a pot of coffee, something caught my attention when I reached for a coffee filter from its box. Across the top of the packaging read:
"The ultimate coffee experience starts with the right filter".
That's a pretty bold statement.
As I pondered its validity, I considered the purposes of coffee filters. They are strategically designed to trap impurities, thereby ensuring a more flavorful cup of coffee. Ideal filters are themselves pure, thereby maintaining a chemical and bleach-free brewing cycle. Without them, coffee can taste bitter, and no one wants to chew on coffee grounds! So, yes, I'd agree that the right filter can be the catalyst for an ultimate coffee experience.
Our thoughts are like preparing an excellent cup of coffee. Roll with me a second. We can have up to 60,000 thoughts a day. Imagine scooping coffee grounds into a filter, each one representing a thought that will cross your mind during the day. If we use a poor filter, impurities will seep through, leaving us with a bitter taste. In other words, if we don't properly filter our thoughts, our day can be filled with negativity, despair, or hopelessness.
So, how do we properly filter our thoughts?
Let's seek wisdom from Paul's letter to the early church in the city of Philippi (Phil 4:8):
"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.”
This verse represents our “ultimate experience”; it represents a flavorful, rich cup of coffee. In order to achieve it, we can put three “filters” in place. Ask these questions when ruminating on a particular thought:
Is this thought true? This filter will help you to detect and dismiss falsehoods, assumptions, and absolutes such as "never" or "always".
Is this thought helpful? Does this thought serve to shape you more into the image of Jesus or help you reach the goals you have in place?
Is this thought kind? The thoughts you have about yourself and others should always be uplifting and positive. If you wouldn't say it about your best friend, filter those thoughts out!
Ever since this analogy came to mind, I’ve thought about my thoughts as I’ve scooped coffee grounds into the filter and enjoyed a cup of coffee. It’s become my daily reminder that I have the power to filter, trap, and toss the thoughts that do not honor God and that threaten to spiral my day into negativity. I hope it helps you, too!
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