Daily Stop & Thinks

The chief cause of failure and unhappiness is trading what you want most for what you want now. (Zig Ziglar, late motivational speaker)

We live in a generation of “me first” and “right now” people. Some of us have not outgrown our behavior as kindergartners when we always had to be first at the drinking fountain. And, like children, we still want our desires fulfilled immediately. Delayed gratification is a trait of adulthood and maturity that some of us have not achieved yet. But, it’s past time to grow up!

When I was a child . . . I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me (1 Corinthians 13:11).

Courtesy is the idea “that no one give any kind of preference to himself” (C. S. Lewis, British scholar and author)

Does the proliferation of “selfies” on social media suggest something about personal image and self-interest? We even see people “photo-bombing” others’ pictures—that is, inserting themselves where someone is taking a picture, so they are in it, too. Courtesy seems to be a lost practice today. As Lewis suggests, we need to think of others before ourselves.

In humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others (Philippians 2:3-4).

A trait of virtue is doing the right thing even when you don’t feel like it. (Stonestreet and Kunkle, authors)

When being watched closely, probably most people will try to do the right thing. But, what if no one’s watching or no one will likely find out what you’re doing? How do you respond to the temptation to follow your feelings, which don’t always lead you to the right choice? Virtue is conforming to what is right. Making the right choice is always an evidence of true virtue.

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out (Proverbs 10:9).

Better to do something imperfectly than to do nothing flawlessly. (Kary Oberbrunner, motivational speaker and author

It’s often been said that “Anything worth doing is worth doing well.” And we would all agree with that, no doubt. Could Oberbrunner be saying, “Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly”? Can’t a worthy project have value even if it isn’t done perfectly? That’s an encouragement to us who don’t always do things as well as we’d like.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).

Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently. (Henry Ford, automaker)

Or, as Charles Swindoll writes, “Failures are only temporary tests to prepare us for permanent triumphs.” No one likes to fail, but we all do at one time or another. That does not make us a failure unless we don’t start again and work for correction and improvement. A positive attitude toward failure will improve both our attitude and our work effort.

Though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, (Proverbs 24:16).

Enslave the liberty of but one human being and the liberties of the world are put in peril. (William Lloyd Garrison, 19^th century American journalist and social reformer)

America was founded on the belief not only that all men are created equal but that they have the right to be free—to have liberty. It’s an ideal that has never been fully realized anywhere in the world, including the USA. That’s all the more reason that we should continue to pray for those who do not have liberty and pursue their freedom from oppression.

Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed (Isaiah 1:17). The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me . . . to set the oppressed free (Luke 4:18).

The opinions that we have don’t make a difference like the love that we give. (Ann Voskamp, Canadian author)

Everyone seems to have an opinion about any subject you might want to talk about. And most of us hold onto those opinions very tightly. Thus, the expression, opinionated, which usually is not a compliment. Even when our personal ideas are correct, they will not likely have as positive an effect on our hearers as a sincere demonstration of concern and love.

Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions (Proverbs 18:2).

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love (Ephesians 4:2).

For morality, a right heart is better than a right law. (Jackson Wu, theologian)

Many who are dissatisfied with the current state of society—decrying high crime rates, lack of respect and courtesy—plead for the government “to do something about it.” Hundreds of years of history have demonstrated clearly, however, that morality cannot be legislated. It’s not a new law we need but a new heart, an inner acceptance of truth and transformation of life.

Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. …

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. (Ezekiel 18:31; 36:26).

Discernment is the power to tell the good from the bad [and] the genuine from the counterfeit… (Samuel Johnson, 18^th century English literary critic)

Johnson went on to say, “…and to prefer the good and the genuine to the bad and the counterfeit.” As important as it is to have the wisdom to determine good from bad and right from wrong, it is just as important to choose the genuine over the counterfeit. With today’s plethora of questionable ethics in social media and advertising, godly discernment is critical.

King Solomon prayed, “So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong “ (1 Kings 3:9).

We shouldn’t confuse information with knowledge or knowledge with wisdom. (T. S. Eliot, 20^th century British essayist and social critic)

Think about these two startling facts as a result of the “information age”: 1) if Wikipedia were made into a book, it would be 2.25 million pages. 2) Facebook’s 1 billion members make it the third largest nation in the world. Does increased information lead to better knowledge? Does that result in the wise use of knowledge and information? What is the source of wisdom?

To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness (Ecclesiastes 2:26).

The true secret of giving advice is, after you have honestly given it, to be perfectly indifferent whether it is taken or not. (Henry Ward Beecher, 19^th century clergyman)

When we give advice, we most often want to see how faithfully it is followed. If our counsel is followed, we are happy that we contributed to another’s well-being. Beech says, however, that that shouldn’t be a concern to us. That’s hard to accept, isn’t it? But we advise, not for our pleasure, but to help others. And where we get our advice and counsel is most important.

To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his (Job 12:13). “Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power,“ [says the Lord] (Proverbs 8:14).

The miracle isn’t that I finished. It’s that I had the courage to start. (John Bingham, Marathon Runner)

Most people look at marathon runners with admiration and, maybe, a little envy. Don’t we all wish that we could compete well in such a race? But, wishing doesn’t make it happen, and you can’t finish a race you haven’t started. Of course, there’s a great deal of preparation and training that’s needed, too. So, whatever the project, let’s set our goal and get started!

Now begin the work, and the Lord be with you (1 Chronicles 22:16).