GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: September 9, 2025

Attitudes

We operate under the assumption that if we change the scenery of our life, we will be fine. (former pastor)

That’s the way we often think, isn’t it? If I just had a different job; if I could move to a nicer community; if-if-if; it could go on and on. Of course, we know that such longings aren’t going to change anything. If we change our attitude and acknowledge that those changes wouldn’t make much difference, we may discover life works better without the ifs.

For the Kingdom of God is . . . living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. (Romans 14:17-18).

Stop & Think: September 8, 2025

Perspective

We let our experiences with disappointment color our expectations of fulfillment. (Chris Tiegreen, devotional writer)

For some people, there seem to be more disappointments than fulfilled hopes and dreams. Whether it’s an imagined jinx or just coincidence, it still makes life hard for them. Tiegreen may be suggesting that we just need to change our perspective. Instead of expecting the worst, begin to anticipate the happy consequences of our actions and hopeful dreams.

It is pleasant to see dreams come true (Proverbs 13:19).

Stop & Think: September 7, 2025

Worry

As a rule, men worry more about what they can’t see than about what they can [see]. (Julius Caesar, 1st Century B.C. Roman dictator)

Is there nothing new under the sun? (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Certainly, this First Century observation could be said about today’s generation, too. We are fearful, of course, about things that might happen, like natural disasters, crime, or war, and those issues do need to be addressed. But it’s the things we fear may happen that really distress us and create feelings of hopelessness.

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today (Matthew 6:4).

Stop & Think: September 6, 2025

Truth

Everything is as good or as bad as our opinion makes it. (C. S. Lewis, late British scholar)

Lewis seems to be expressing current ideas about truth. “What’s true for you may not be true for me,” some argue. Is it really just a question of opinion? After all, if two each have their own ideas, they both can’t be right, but both can be wrong. So, we need to look for some basis of absolute truth to be able to evaluate opinions and develop statements that are true and verifiable.

So I am writing to you . . . because you know the difference between truth and lies (1 John 2:21).

Stop & Think: September 5, 2025

Government Aid

God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? (Benjamin Franklin)

Franklin points out that the Bible itself answers his question. It’s not just the initial building of an empire but sustaining it throughout its history that requires the blessing of Almighty God. That implies, of course, that for any nation to succeed, it will continue to need God’s blessing and provision. Governments today should seek God’s direction and request His blessing.

Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it (Psalm 127:1).

Stop & Think: September 4, 2025

Certainty

Truth will never lose anything by investigation. (Julia Wood, marriage counselor and author)

With so many voices claiming to speak truth, it’s often difficult to be certain what is true and what isn’t. Today, relativism has brought confusion in most areas of life. It would be helpful to simply ask, “Where did you get your information?” Ronald Regan said, “Trust, but verify.”

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. . . . And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 16:13; 8:32).

Stop & Think: September 3, 2025

Contented

It is best to work . . . at whatever you have a talent for . . . (Hesiod, ancient Greek poet)

Hesiod continued “. . . without turning your greedy thought toward what some other man possesses.” Some find it easy to look jealously at the lifestyle of others. But we don’t know what it cost them to achieve their status. When we stop comparing ourselves with others and do what we’re best at, we find contentment with what we have.

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people (Colossians 3:23).

Stop & Think: September 2, 2025

Secrets

The man who can keep a secret may be wise, but he is not half as wise as the man with no secrets to keep. (Edgar Watson Howe, late novelist and editor)

Gossip is one of the curses of every generation, no doubt. What’s just as bad, or worse, perhaps, is the passing on of secrets. It seems to be so difficult not to pass on news, whether it’s good or bad, when you’ve been told, “This is confidential.” It may be rare, but it is comforting to have a friend with integrity whom you can trust to keep your confidence.

A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence. . . don’t betray another person’s secret (Proverbs 11:13; 25:9).

Stop & Think: September 1, 2025

New Beginnings

September is the other January. (Gretchen Rubin, bestselling author)

It used to be that the new school year began in September, and it almost felt like another New Year’s Day. Essayist F. Scott Fitzgerald  put it this way, “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” There may be many new beginnings in your life this month. So, whether you’re back to school or back to work, start this “New Year” well.

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

Stop & Think: August 31, 2025

Ending or Beginning

Celebrate endings—for they precede new beginnings. (Jonathan Lockwood Huie, author)

It’s the end of August, not the end of the world! Your vacation may be over and it’s time to go back to work or school. That might be discouraging, but Huie suggests another perspective. When one thing ends, another begins. So be glad for the time away and celebrate what’s ahead.

 We want each of you to show . . . diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized (Hebrews 6:10-11).

Stop & Think: August 30, 2025

Decisions and Choices

People only see the decisions you made, not the choices you had. (Masashi Kishimoto, Japanese author)

Kishimoto’s works were a unique style of Japanese literature, and even though it was fiction, this statement offers a meaningful principle of effective communication. Be careful not to make quick judgments about someone’s decisions without knowing the circumstances that forced him or her to choose from many options.

The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7b).

Stop & Think: August 29, 2025

Focus

You can do anything, but not everything—FOCUS! (Addy Osmani, software engineer and author)

Many people have discovered that they were trying to do too much and not doing anything well. Although some people seem to be able to keep many projects going at the same time, most of us don’t have that flexibility. We’re limited to one thing at a time. And that can be a very good thing. The more focused we are on a single project, the more likely we are to complete it well.

I focus on this one thing . . . I press on to . . . receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us (Philippians 3:13-14).