Daily Stop & Thinks

Many of life’s failures are experienced by people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. (Thomas Edison, inventor)

Edwin H. Land, founder of Polaroid, put it another way, “An essential aspect of creativity is not being afraid to fail.” Failure is no one’s goal in life, but ultimate success in any venture may involve many disappointments along the way. It’s the persistence, as well as the creative mind, that has led to the many discoveries and technical improvements we enjoy today.

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up (Galatians 6:9).

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. (Ralph Waldo Emerson, 19^th century poet)

Robert Frost, a later American poet, wrote something quite similar: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” It takes a good bit of courage, no doubt, to head off on an unknown road. But the opportunity to blaze a trail and make it possible for others to follow is a challenge worth pursuing.

Seek [God’s] will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take (Proverbs 3:6).

You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream. (C. S. Lewis, late British writer)

When is too old too old? There may be a time, of course, when you can’t physically do some of the things you used to do. Play football or do calculus in your head (could you ever do that?). But, so long as you have some mental acuity, you can continue to learn and share your wisdom and experiences with others. Don’t let the number of years limit your ability to grow.

Don’t long for “the good old days.” This is not wise. . . . When people live to be very old, let them rejoice in every day of life. (Ecclesiastes 7:10; 11:8).

Maturity is not the one with the most knowledge, but the one whose life has been changed the most by what they know. (Chris Suitt, pastor)

Maturity is not just a question of age. Some young people show more wisdom than some older adults. As Suitt notes, it’s not just a matter of gaining knowledge either. Knowledge can inflate one’s ego and doesn’t guarantee a wise use of what you know. Physical, emotional, and intellectual maturity are the result of learning and experience that effect significant growth.

Let us . . . become mature in our understanding (Hebrews 6:1). Those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger (Proverbs 24:5).

You must do the things you think you cannot do. (Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of 32^nd US president)

“I just can’t do it” is sometimes our reaction when we’re faced with either a tough job we don’t feel capable of doing or something we just don’t want to do. That kind of response, however, often stymies our personal growth and, perhaps, an opportunity for advancement. No matter how reluctant we might be in such circumstances, we need to buckle down and do our best.

Don’t try to avoid doing your duty (Ecclesiastes 8:3).

Thoughts control feelings, which control behavior. (Wyatt Webb, therapist)

Youth leader Ryan Hemlock expands on this idea: “The way we think controls the way we act. And the way we act translates to how we perform in our jobs [and] interact with others.” So many people defend their actions with the argument that “If it feels so good, it can’t be wrong.” That kind of thinking leads to disaster. So, first, guard carefully your thought life.

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life (Proverbs 4:23).

The most expensive thing in the world is trust. It can take years to earn and just a matter of seconds to lose. (Tupac Shapur, actor and musician)

Who can you trust? Our society seems to be more and more political. Most issues are becoming partisan with angry arguments that shed more heat than light. It’s unfortunate that we have to take what anyone says with a little skepticism. How quickly we see the reputations of public figures dissolve in a poorly spoken word or questionable behavior. What a shame!

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

Life is the art of drawing without an eraser. (John W. Garner, late U.S. cabinet member)

Like words, you can’t look back and change the things you’ve done in the past. You may be able to erase words from paper or delete them on the computer, but you can’t treat life that way. It’s critical, then, that we watch our steps—what we do, where we go, how we behave. We need always to be aware of how we’re living and very careful to conduct ourselves honorably.

We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God (Titus 2:12). We want to live honorably in everything we do (Hebrews 13:18).

Be sure to taste your words before you spit them out. (Toby McKeehan, songwriter and recording artist)

As someone else put it, “It’s better to bite your tongue than eat your words.” It is embarrassing to admit that you’ve said something you shouldn’t have. What’s worse, many times there is nothing you can do to avoid the consequences of what you’ve said. Your poor judgment becomes apparent, hurt feelings result, and friendships may be destroyed. Guard your tongue!

Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything (Proverbs 13:3).

Watch, lest prosperity destroy generosity. (Henry Ward Beecher, 19^th century social reformer)

It’s a puzzle, isn’t it? You would think that the more we have, the more generous we would be. But that doesn’t seem to be the way life really is. Have you noticed that even though some people have a lot of this world’s goods, they don’t seem to share a lot? On the other hand, some folks with very little are the most generous, sharing with others in need. Why is that?

You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion (2 Corinthians 9:11).

He is a fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. (Jim Elliott, martyred missionary)

Practical jokes on April Fool’s Day are often silly and comical. Everybody laughs (except for the victim of the prank). But Elliott was speaking of something far more significant—something for which he willingly gave his life. He spoke of the folly of trying to gain riches and fame when both are only temporary at best. He challenges us to value the lasting, the eternal.

And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? (Matthew 16:26)

What the mind dwells upon, the body acts upon. (Denis Waitley, motivational speaker)

Our actions are determined beforehand by our thoughts. Occasionally, we may act instinctively without much thought, but that’s pretty rare. Most of the time, we do what we do because we’ve thought about it—whether it’s good or bad. So, it’s very important that we think right thoughts. What and how we think determines pretty much how we act and what we do.

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Philippians 4:8).