Daily Stop & Thinks

Devotion

Discipline says, “I need to.” Duty says, “I ought to.” Devotion says, “I want to.” (Adrian Rogers, Bible Teacher)

The great tenor, Luciano Pavarotti, put it this way, “People think it’s discipline. It is not discipline. It is devotion. There is a great difference.” Devotion has a nice ring to it; discipline, however, seems harsh and unkind. In reality, both are needed to achieve greatness in any field of endeavor. Think of discipline as self-control and work at it diligently to thrive.

Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper. . . Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity (Proverbs 13:4; 21:5)

Keep On

Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game. (Babe Ruth, late baseball start)

Babe Ruth held the record for having struck out more times than anyone else in his era. But he wasn’t noted for strike outs but for home runs—a record he held for many years. He didn’t let his failure to hit on many occasions keep him from trying to get a hit the next time. That’s a pretty good lesson for all of us. To keep on trying after making an error is the way to success.

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7)

Gratitude

Gratitude is the antidote for envy. (Tim Sprankle, pastor)

Envy can be a subtle enemy of contentment. We may not covet someone’s property or wealth, but we might begin to wish we had a neighbor’s skill with tools or a friend’s vocal talent. Such longings lead to discontent and dissatisfaction. But, as Sprankle indicates further, when our eyes are fixed on God—the giver of every good gift, we can be content with what he provides.

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Examples

I can’t tell my children to reach for the sun. All I can do is reach for it myself. (Joyce Maynard, novelist and journalist)

We might tell our kids to do as we say. Why? “Because I say so!” That is hardly a satisfactory answer, but we continue to offer it either because we really don’t have a good answer, or we’ve not given them a good example to follow. So, we’d do better to recognize and change this.

And you yourself must be an example . . . by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect [your] integrity and seriousness. (Titus 2:7)

Genius

Genius is the ability to reduce the complicated to the simple. (C.W. Ceran, 20^th century German journalist)

By itself, that’s a good illustration of the principle. More than a few wives will remember the times their husbands “knew exactly where they were going” on an auto trip. After a long time and the reluctant admission that “we’re lost,” he finally stops to ask directions. The era of GPS has, for the most part, made complex directions very simple. How grateful we are!

When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful. (Proverbs 29:18)

Ideals

Ideals are like stars; you will not succeed in touching them with your hands, but. . . following them you will reach your destiny. (Carl Schurz, German American reformer)

You won’t fully reach your ideals, either, Schurz says. But like the sailor following the stars, if you choose your ideals “as your guide, you will succeed in the process.” They may seem unreachable, but never give up doing your best to live up to the ideals that will give you a rich life and will also be a benefit to others.

May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by the principle of God’s new creation. (Galatians 6:15-16 paraphrased)

Finishing II

Finishing well isn’t something you do at the end of your life—it is what you determine to do every day of your life. (Neil Cole, author)

Most of us don’t like to think about discipline. It implies too much about rules, hard work, and punishment. If we were to think of it as the means to mastery of an art, a sport, or learning, we could begin to appreciate its value. Practicing the piano diligently, spending time on the putting green, studying the lessons of history—those are the kinds of things that enable us to finish well.

No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. (Hebrews 12:11)

Finishing I

Most people are starters and stoppers, not finishers. (Christine Caine, Australian author)

Caine’s statement probably strikes a sense of guilt in many of us. How many projects have we started with enthusiasm but given up before they were finished? How about the diets we’ve begun only to quit before reaching our weight goal? It’s a sad commentary about our perseverance, isn’t it? Maybe we need to find companions who will. help us finish the course.

Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride (Ecclesiastes 7:8).

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful (2 Timothy 4:7).

Mistakes

Learn from the mistakes of others; you may not live long enough to make them all yourself. (Jim Tressel, college president)

It may sound rather trite, but we all know that we make lots of mistakes, and the longer we live, the more we will likely make. So, Tressel’s advice is good. Let’s learn from our mistakes, but we don’t have to make them all. We can learn well from others’ blunders. To do so can avoid a lot of embarrassment and gain a lot of wisdom.

Indeed, we all make many mistakes (James 3:2).

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love (Ephesians 4:2).

Time

Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans. (John Lennon, late British musician)

Sometimes we’re so busy planning for or anticipating the future that we pay too little attention to what’s happening around us right now. At other times, we’re in a nostalgic mood, and we spend valuable time thinking about our past joys and failures. When we are absorbed in such distractions, life goes on with, or perhaps, without our active involvement. What a waste!

See then that ye walk. . . as wise, redeeming the time. (Ephesians 5:15-16)

Justice

Justice means minding one’s own business and not meddling with other men’s concerns. (Plato, Greek philosopher)

The term “social justice” is bandied around so much today. But, do we really know what it should mean? Although Plato’s comment is probably not all-encompassing, it does offer helpful counsel that can be applied to our individual relationships. How much embarrassment and difficult could be avoided if we remembered what Mom told us, “Mind your own business”?

Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands. (1 Thessalonians 4:11)

Choices

Everything is either an opportunity to grow or an obstacle to keep you from growing. You get to choose. (Wayne Dyer, self-help author)

Dyer says, “With everything that has happened to you, you can feel sorry for yourself or treat what has happened as a gift.” Life so often presents us with choices, and it isn’t “fate” or “karma” that determines our decision. We have to consider the options carefully, seek counsel, perhaps, but, in the end, we make the choice. Ask God for discernment.

Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold (Proverbs 22:1).

A wise person chooses the right road; a fool takes the wrong one. (Ecclesiastes 10:2).