Rev. Jennifer Lambert, Senior Pastor, Sun Lakes United Methodist Church
February often invites mixed emotions. For some, it carries reminders of love and connection. For others, it highlights absence—people we miss, routines that have changed, or seasons of life that feel quieter than we expected. Add to that the constant stream of news and commentary competing for our attention, and it’s easy to feel weighed down before the month is half over.
Into that reality, the apostle Paul offers these familiar words:
“Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8).
Paul is not offering denial or escapism. He is writing from prison—hardly an ideal setting for optimism. Instead, he is inviting the community to be intentional about where they place their attention. What we dwell on, he suggests, shapes who we are becoming.
Attention is one of the most powerful spiritual practices we have. Every day, we decide—sometimes consciously, often unconsciously—what gets our mental and emotional energy. We can rehearse worries, replay grievances, and ruminate on what we cannot control. Or we can practice noticing what is still good, still meaningful, still holy in the midst of ordinary life.
Philippians 4:8 does not ask us to pretend that life is easy. It asks us to choose a different lens. To think on “whatever is true” in a world of half-truths and fear-driven narratives is an act of faith. To dwell on “whatever is honorable” in a culture quick to criticize is an act of resistance. To notice “whatever is just and pure” is to affirm that God is still at work, even when the headlines suggest otherwise.
For many of us, this practice becomes especially important as we age. Our bodies change. Our circles may grow smaller. Loss becomes more familiar. And yet, these years also hold wisdom, perspective, and a deep capacity for gratitude—if we allow ourselves to attend to it.
What if February became a month of gentle noticing?
Noticing the neighbor who checks in. Noticing the song that still stirs something in your spirit. Noticing the comfort of routine, the gift of memory, the quiet strength you have carried through more than you ever imagined.
Paul’s words are not about positive thinking for its own sake. They are about aligning our minds with the character of God. When we practice attention to what is good and praiseworthy, we create space for God’s peace to take root—“a peace that surpasses all understanding,” as Paul writes just a few verses later.
This kind of attentiveness does not require grand gestures. It can begin with a short pause in the morning, a prayer before reading the news, or a simple question at the end of the day: What did I notice today that was good?
In a season when so much competes for our focus, Philippians 4:8 offers a quiet, steady invitation: Choose where you rest your mind. Choose what you rehearse in your heart.
Choose to notice the goodness that is still present.
As we do, may we find ourselves grounded, grateful, and gently reminded that God’s presence is woven into far more moments than we often realize.
Sun Lakes United Methodist Church is located at 9248 E. Riggs Road, Sun Lakes, AZ 85248. See our website at www.sunlakesumc.org.