“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” Philippians 4:8

 I once saw an old black and white movie from 1952 entitled “Carbine Williams” starring Jimmy Stewart. It was about David Marshall Williams who invented the M-1 carbine rifle while in prison. David was wrongly imprisoned for bootlegging moonshine. His bitterness and rebellion made prison life even harder for him. The warden threw him into solitary confinement and left him. After spending more time than any other prisoner in solitary confinement, the warden called for him to be taken out, expecting him to be in a mess. When he was brought before the warden he was in good spirits and good health.

“How did you manage this?” the warden asked.

David said, “I got this idea for a new type of gun while I was in solitary. As I began to draw the blueprints on the wall, I realized you can only think of one thing at a time.”

He had thought of nothing else. This gave him the freedom to focus and continue his blueprints. The Carbine M-1 rifle was developed in the prison. It was the rifle used in World War II and it was credited with helping us win the war.

If we would only think on these things: “things that are true, things that are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise,” then we, too, could complete the blueprint God has for our lives.