GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: January 15, 2021

Affliction

The Lord gets his best soldiers out of the highlands of affliction. (C.H. Spurgeon, late British preacher)

It’s only natural to avoid affliction and trials as much as possible. Yet, we often find ourselves in trying circumstances, not always of our own doing. It’s in the way we respond to such difficulties that often determines our future success or failure. Spurgeon’s comment suggests that trials may be the very best way to gain strength and perseverance.

My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Stop & Think: January 14, 2021

Friendship III

I can trust my friends. These people force me to examine [and] encourage me to grow. (Cher, singer)

Friends are not just “yes” men or women. Good friends speak truth into a situation even when it may hurt a bit. That’s one of the ways that we grow—through the loving, kind, well-intentioned criticism of those who know us and care most for us and our good. That will likely include corrections as well as accolades.

The godly give good advice to their friends. . . Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy. . . The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense. (Proverbs 12:26; 27:6, 9)

Stop & Think: January 13, 2021

Friendship II

The real test of friendship is: can you literally do nothing with the other person? Can you enjoy those moments of life that are utterly simple? (Eugene Kennedy, late psychologist and author)

Is a protracted silence among friends difficult for you? Do you feel like it’s necessary to say or do something? You can’t just stay quiet? Kennedy notes that among really close friends, there is no need for constant conversation or activity. Quiet times of reflection or just being together are fulfilling in themselves. Learning to be quiet may be a great quality of lasting friendships.

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. . . A time to be quiet and a time to speak. (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 8)

Stop & Think: January 12, 2021

Friendship I

Friendship without self-interest is one of the rare and beautiful things in life. (James Francis Byrnes, late Supreme Court Justice)

Who are our real friends? Who enjoys and serves us without hidden agendas or designs to use us for their own advancement? Maybe we should ask, Who are we real friends to—seeking only their well-being and not using them for our purposes? Friends without self-interest, as Byrnes suggests are uncommon. That’s the kind of friend we ought to be.

A friend is always loyal. . . The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense. (Proverbs 17:17; 27:9)

Stop & Think: January 11, 2021

Change II

When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves. (Inspiration Line)

While change may often be difficult, there are times when we really wish we could bring about change in one circumstance or another. Sometimes it is completely beyond our control, and we’re faced with a dilemma. As noted above, the quandary simply becomes a challenge—to find a way to adjust our approach, arriving at some way to address it all from a different perspective.

Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. (Romans 12:2)

Stop & Think: January 10, 2021

Change I

Change does not imply weakness as much as offer wisdom. (Tim Sprankle, pastor)

Change is difficult even in the world of physics. Inertia, for example, is the rule that things in motion tend to stay in motion and things at rest tend to stay at rest. Many of us are so comfortable in our habits that we think to change would be a sign of weakness. More willingness to change, however, as Sprankle suggests, may simply be the better part of wisdom.

Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Stop & Think: January 9, 2021

Leadership II

If you get too far ahead of the army, your soldiers may mistake you for the enemy. (Warren Wiersbe, author)

An ambitious leader may make a critical mistake by getting too far ahead of his followers. If they are not fully aware of the plans, they may lose track of the strategy and flounder. Sometimes the over-eager general may forget his primary assignment: stay with the troops, keep them informed of the progress, and lead alongside them.

For wherever there is. . . selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. (James 3:16)

Stop & Think: January 8, 2021

Leadership I

He who would lead, let him serve. (Chuck Colson & Jack Eckerd, authors)

When we think of great leaders, we usually picture a general ahead of his troops or a great orator motivating his followers to grand pursuits. But the greatest leader in all of history said, “I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:27). And his service ultimately culminated in the sacrifice of his life for our benefit. Determining to be servants, we may well become leaders.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28)

Stop & Think: January 7, 2021

Gratitude III

Gratitude paints little smiley faces on everything it touches. (Richelle E. Goodrich, author)

It may seem a bit trite, but haven’t you met a few people who seem to light up the environment when they are around? When we have an attitude of gratitude, it seems we are always more positive and encouraging. It’s hard to say “Thank you” without smiling, isn’t it? Just think how more pleasant life would be if we could paint smiley faces all around.

What a relief to see your friendly smile. It is like seeing the face of God! (Genesis 33:10)

Stop & Think: January 6, 2021

Gratitude II

The purest form of our thanksgiving is quietly seen in our thanks-living. (Choose Joy)

Having an attitude of gratitude is dying in our modern culture where the art of thankfulness is being replaced with constant criticism, discontent, and entitled mindsets.  However, when we’re looking for reasons to be grateful by counting our blessings rather than hardships, bitterness and discontent fall away. To live thankfully should be our daily commitment.

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Stop & Think: January 5, 2021

Gratitude I

Gratitude [is] nearly the greatest of all human duties, (and) nearly the most difficult. (G. K. Chesterton, 20th century English writer)

Why is gratitude so difficult? We begin teaching our children to say, “Please” and “Thank you” at the very earliest ages. Is the American spirit of independence so strongly ingrained, that we like to think we can do it all on our own; we don’t need help? But gratitude may be “the greatest of human duties,” because as the Bible asks, “What do we have that we did not receive?”

You show your gratitude through your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone. (2 Corinthians 9:13)

Stop & Think: January 4, 2021

Learning

Life is a series of lessons which must be lived to be understood. (Thomas Carlyle, 19th century British philosopher)

As Carlyle suggests, lessons are best learned, not by rote and lecture, but by experience. The accumulation of valuable knowledge is the result of lots of living. And no one should try to avoid such learning. To put it simply, to live is to learn. The secret to good learning, then, is to pay careful attention to life’s experiences, using reason and wisdom to make them most beneficial.

Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge. (Proverbs 18:15)