Daily Stop & Thinks

The act of self-giving is a personal power-releasing factor. (Chelle Thompson, editor and publisher)

Thompson continues: “When you become detached mentally from yourself and concentrate on helping other people with their difficulties, you will be able to cope with your own more effectively.” Many have found this counsel to be true. When we put others first, helping them cope with life, we discover that we are better able to handle our own troubles.

Praise be to . . . the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

What you believe must determine how you behave. (Warren Wiersbe, preacher and author)

Why do we do the things we do? What determines our actions and behavior? There may be different influences that cause us to do this or that, but in the end we most often act on the basis of what we believe. When we think something is true, we’ll move in light of that truth. If, on the other hand, we doubt it, we most likely will not act on it.

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity (1 Timothy 4:12).

There is a language in actions. And in some cases the language of action is much more clear and convincing than words. (Jonathan Edwards, 18th century Puritan theologian)

Perhaps Edwards’ words are the basis for the more modern expression, “Actions speak louder than words.” In spite of what someone might say, the evidence of his activity will usually reveal the true intent of his heart and mind. We might well tell him, “What you do speaks so loud, I can’t hear what you say.” Work hard to make your deeds and words match.

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth (1 John 3:18).

Accepting the conundrum that arrogance is weakness and humility is strength builds foundations for rich leadership. (Dan Rockwell, leadership writer)

A conundrum is a puzzle, an unusual idea. Rockwell explains this one a bit: “Arrogance creates emptiness. Humility builds connections.” In modern minds, humility is often seen as a weakness. People say, “You have to stand up for yourself; don’t let others walk all over you.” In this perspective, just the opposite is true. Avoid pride; create a healthy self-image.

Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment (Romans 12:3).

If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world. (C. S. Lewis, 19th century British academic and Christian apologist)

We are born we all kinds of desires, and most of them are satisfied as we grow and have experience. Channeling those desires into appropriate venues will bring satisfaction and contentment. But, as Lewis suggests, there may be an innate, unsatisfied longing that cannot be filled by any of life’s experiences. There is an eternal void that longs for eternity.

[God] has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing. (Martin Luther, 15th-16th century German Reformation leader)

People turn to religion for a variety of reasons. For some it’s to fill a sense of emptiness. Others are looking for help, like hanging on to a rabbit’s foot for good luck. Martin Luther, who held onto his faith at great personal cost, understood that genuine faith in God opens a relationship with Him that may involve difficulties designed to produce spiritual growth.

We are . . . heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. . . I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Romans 8:17-18),

Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men. (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 18th & 19th century German statesman and writer)

Similarly, Marcus Aurelius, 2nd century Roman emperor had said, “Dream big dreams; only big dreams have the power to move men’s souls.” Perhaps it’s true that little ideas come from little minds while great ideas come from great minds. In any case, the greater the challenge, the more likely that people will be moved to participate in fulfilling the vision.

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails (Proverbs 19:21).

The future belongs to those who believe in their dreams. (Eleanor Roosevelt, former US First Lady and political activist)

Two lessons can be seen in Roosevelt’s quote. 1) To have an impact on the future, you must be a dreamer—someone who has a vision for what can be done. 2) The dreamer must be more than a visionary; he or she needs to have a strong sense of confidence in the dream. And then, of course, the dreamer will have to put every effort into achieving the vision.

Where there is no vision, the people perish (Proverbs 29:18).

Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it! (Zig Ziglar, late motivational speaker and writer)

We often have very little control over what happens to us. We didn’t choose our birthplace, our parents, or our nationality, but those are factors that we must live with. We can be resentful about those issues and wish they were different, but that’s a waste of time and effort. We must look at such things realistically and determine to make the best of them.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life (Psalm 23:6).

Don’t let making a living prevent you from making a life. (John Wooden, renowned basketball coach)

Many of the athletes that John Wooden coached were perennial champions in their sport. Some of them went on to play professional sports, earning fame and fortune. However, his life lessons were more important to his players than his sports training. You can make a good living but lose out on the values of a rewarding life. It’s all a matter of priorities.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:33).

The most I can do for my friend is simply to be his friend. (Henry David Thoreau, 19th century American writer, philosopher, and naturalist)

The basis for friendship today is often merely mutual appreciation for similar things—sports teams, political parties, common causes, etc. Thoreau sees friendship as something more simple but significant: “If he knows that I am happy in loving him, he will want no other reward. Is not friendship divine in this?”

[Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres (1 Corinthians 13:7).

Failures are only temporary tests to prepare us for permanent triumphs. (Charles Swindoll, author and minister)

No one likes to fail, and some people never seem to recover from a failure, no matter how minor. But, as Swindoll suggests, most failures are not permanent, but they may be great learning experiences that will provide opportunities for recovery and success. He goes on to write, “Start doing something that you’ve put off because of the risk of failure.”

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