GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: April 17, 2025

Learning from Life

Failure is life’s greatest teacher . . . (Ajayi Jones, author and speaker)

That idea may be difficult to swallow when you’ve just failed in some area of your life. But Jones continues: “. . . and the only way we truly fail is to learn nothing from the valleys we experience.” This idea may also be hard to appreciate, but given a little time, you may very well discover it’s truth. Don’t just fail; learn from it and move on.

The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. (Proverbs 24:16)

Stop & Think: April 16, 2025

Excellence

Don’t expect perfection. Rather, make it your goal to achieve excellence. (Jesse Deloe, writer)

Parents want their children to behave perfectly, especially in the company of others. Teachers look for perfection in their students’ use of proper grammar. The general populace wishes for political leaders who will make perfect laws and regulations. If that’s what we’re looking for, we will always be disappointed. Let’s encourage one another simply to strive for excellence.

Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence . . . (2 Peter 1:5)

Stop & Think: April 15, 2025

Devotion to God

Lent comes providentially to reawaken us, to shake us from our lethargy. (Pope Francis)

Christians who observe the 40 days of Lent before Easter usually give up something, practicing fasting, for example, as a token of devotion and sacrifice. It suggests a more introspective consideration of one’s relationship with God, and as one pastor put it, “We need God more than we need to be busy for God.” It’s a good time to prayerfully review your closeness to God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. (Psalm 42:2)

Stop & Think: April 14, 2025

Burdens

It’s not the load that breaks you down; it’s the way you carry it. (Lena Horne, singer and actress)

Look around you. Do you see people whose posture or facial expression make you think they must be carrying a heavy load? We have such times whether because of health, financial woes, or a dozen other possible factors. Learning how to cope with such struggles is an important step toward lightening the load. Another is to find help; let someone share the load with you.

Jesus: “Take my yoke upon you. . . , and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29-30).
Share each other’s troubles and problems, and so obey our Lord’s command (Galatians 6:2).

Stop & Think: April 13, 2025

Debate

Winning hearts is a lot more important than winning arguments. (Chris Tiegreen, devotional writer)

Organized debate was once a helpful means of achieving understanding. It allowed equal but limited time for debaters on both sides. Discussions were open and fair with careful listeners. Today, talking is too often interrupted with constant objections and little attention to logic or fairness. A civil exchange of ideas will more likely speak to the heart and result in better understanding.

Do everything without complaining and arguing (Philippians 2:14).

Stop & Think: April 12, 2025

Vengeance/Forgiveness

Vengeance is having a videotape planted in your soul that cannot be turned off. (Lewis B. Smedes, late theology professor and author)

It’s human nature to want to get back at someone who has hurt us. Sadly, we often don’t only want to get even, we want to do even greater harm. As Smedes notes, however, the revenge-seeker is really the long-time sufferer. But, as the late South African writer, Alan Paton, reminds us, “When a deep injury is done us, we never recover until we forgive.”

Forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others (Colossians 3:13).

Stop & Think: April 11, 2025

Moving Forward

I am willing to go anywhere, as long as it is forward. (David Livingston,19th century medical missionary)

He may have seemed to be fearless, but Livingston prayed, “God, send me anywhere, only go with me.” Known as an intrepid explorer and preacher, Livingston had his heart set on taking the gospel to the darkest places in Africa. What an example for us and a challenge to use our God-given abilities to advance his message of grace.

To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some (1 Corinthians 9:22).

Stop & Think: April 10, 2025

Truth

The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them. (Ida B. Wells, journalist and sociologist)

We are well aware of wrongs that happen all around us. Whether it’s being mistreated by your employer, experiencing a bad deal in a business exchange, or the evil happening around the world, we long to set the wrongs right. Society tries many ways to bring about correction. Wells is definitely right. Truth is the best way to take a wrong and make it right.

So I am writing to you because . . .  you know the difference between truth and lies (1 John 2:21).
And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:32).

Stop & Think: April 9, 2025

Reality

Ignoring reality doesn’t erase it. (Aldous Huxley, author)

Our amazing mind can confirm reality or convince us that something is real when it isn’t. Much of our physical body is controlled by what we know, think, and respond to mentally. We can fool ourselves at times, denying what is right in front of us as if we can think it away. But we must face reality and respond to it with careful thought and reason.

So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. (Romans 8:6).

Stop & Think: April 8, 2025

Love

The magic words for a great relationship are, “I love you just the way you are.” (Jonathan Lockwood Huie, author)

When we were going through courtship days, we might have been inclined to use this sentiment. After a few years of marriage, however, we might not be able to say the same thing honestly. In contrast, the beauty of God’s love is that he loves us just as we are, but he isn’t satisfied to leave us there. He wants us to grow in our love relationships.

I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding (Philippians 1:9).

Stop & Think: April 7, 2025

Kindness

Kindness is free to give and priceless to receive. (Acts of Kindness Foundation)

Someone else has said that kind people are the best kind of people. Surely, we would all agree that. When you’re down and struggling, a friend’s kind words—or even a stranger’s, for that matter, can turn your day around. It’s a priceless gift when someone treats you kindly. And it costs us nothing to do the same. So, be kind today!

Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. (Proverbs 3:3)

Stop & Think: April 6, 2025

Enough or More?

Be thankful for what you have . . . If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough. (Oprah Winfrey, former talk show host)

Winfrey’s observation has been found to be true by many people who want more. But for those who have more than enough, another author wrote: “When we have been blessed with more than we need, it’s not our need God is concerned about; it’s the need of someone around us.” What we have, whether more or less, is given by God both for our benefit and the blessing of others.

Give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. (Proverbs 30:8)
If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? (1 John 3:17)