GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: September 24, 2025

What’s Best?

Pursuing whatever we desire is not what is best for the world. (Pastor James Emory White)

White’s comment may seem odd in a world where we are often encouraged to go hard after the things we want. Since we are free to do so, why let anything stop us? He went on to write, “What is best for the world is when we submit our desires to what is best for the world.“ That calls both for unselfishness and a deep-seated desire to serve others in their best interest.

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him (Philippians 2:13).
You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God (1 Peter 4:2).

Stop & Think: September 23, 2025

Responses

In life, you have a choice: (1) Consume (2) Critique (3) Criticize (4) Create. (Kary Oberbrunner, motivational author and speaker)

What most characterizes your behavior? Do you merely take in all you see and hear? Are you a careful evaluator of it all? Or are you critical, doubting what you read and watch? A better way is to take in what you learn but work to make it better. Be creative; widen your own experience and benefit your community.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think (Romans 12:2).
Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior (Ezekiel 18:20).. 

Stop & Think: September 22, 2025

Wannabes

Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are. (Kurt Cobain, musician and songwriter)

Cobain is a much-admired musician who has many young admirers and wannabes. And he has some very good advice about a person’s ambitions. He says that wanting to be someone else or to just be like another person is a fruitless goal. We should accept ourselves for who God made us to be and live our lives purposefully.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well (Psalm 139:14). 

Stop & Think: September 21, 2025

Fear

Fear has two meanings: Forget Everything And Run, or Face Everything And Rise. The choice is yours. (Zig Ziglar, late motivational speaker)

Flight or Fight? Run or Rise? Two significant choices. It’s easier to run from the situation and hopefully have nothing to fear. Choosing to rise and face the problem is more difficult because we can’t be certain of the outcome. But facing our fears with determination will help us rise to the occasion with confidence.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7).

Stop & Think: September 20, 2025

Accidents

Falling down is an accident. Staying down is a choice. (Rosemary Nonny Knight, business coach)

Everyone falls down occasionally, whether physically or emotionally. Physical falls are most often resolved by just getting back up. Emotional falls are sometimes more difficult. But Knight’s observation is helpful. Making the choice to overcome the setback and find help, if necessary, are the first steps to both physical and emotional restoration.

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall (1 Corinthians 10:12).
The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again (Proverbs 25:16).

Stop & Think: September 19, 2025

Perspective

A negative mind will never give you a positive life. (Lewis Hamilton, British racing driver)

It seems that, in today’s society, there are as many (or more) naysayers than those with a positive outlook. Such people seldom appear to be upbeat and happy. You’d think they would want to change their perspective on life. It’s important to realize that a positive mindset may well determine your overall well-being and outlook.

Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes (Ephesians 4:23).
Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable (Philippians 4:8). 

Stop & Think: September 18, 2025

Keep On!

Keep going because you did not come this far just to come this far. (Jesse Itzler, entrepreneur and author)

It’s easy for some of us to be satisfied with the status quo, isn’t it? We’re happy to be where we are, perhaps because the struggle to get here was so difficult. For most of us, however, we’re not really content with the present because there is so much more we’d like to do. With lessons learned from past experience and careful planning for the next step, let’s be sure to move on.

I pray . . . that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding (Philippians 1:9).

Stop & Think: September 17, 2025

Necessary Change

Permit yourself to change your mind when something is no longer working for you. (Nedra Glover Tawwab, writer)

It’s not always easy to change your mind. We may have made a promise and think we must keep it even if it has turned out to be a bad decision. That could just be stubbornness. We’re often faced with challenges to change our thinking about social issues, politics, or even religion. When that happens, we ought to study the issues carefully and change when we should.

Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise (Proverbs 20:25).
Don’t make rash promises (Ecclesiastes 5:2).

Stop & Think: September 16, 2025

Haves and Have-nots

Once you begin to take note of the things you are grateful for, you begin to lose sight of the things that you lack. (J Paul Nadeau, motivational speaker and author)

Have you found Nadeau’s observation to be true? Take a little time to evaluate your thought life. Are you too often wishing for things you don’t have or experiences you long for? Are you comparing your haves and have-nots with your neighbors’? Why don’t you make a list of all you do have that brings you and your family pleasure, and take time to enjoy them?

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

Stop & Think: September 15, 2025

Hope

Hope doesn’t go to sleep just because it’s dark outside; it lights up a candle and stays up waiting for the rest of the story. (Bob Goff, best-selling author)

In times of distress of one kind or another, we hang on to as much hope as we can muster under the circumstances. And hope should be more persistent than our worrying over tough times. We can rest at night if we are sustained by an unwavering hope. No matter the difficulty, genuine hope will carry us through when it’s anchored in something or someone strong and unfailing.

Why am I discouraged? . . . I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God. . . . O Lord, you alone are my hope (Psalm 42:5; 71:5).

Stop & Think: September 14, 2025

Truth vs. Loyalty

Truth is far more important than loyalty. Get that wrong, and your world collapses. (Chuck Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship)

Colson is sadly speaking from experience. Known as the hatchet man for President Nixon, his loyalty to him resulted in a prison sentence. That experience changed his life and the prison system. Afterwards, he commented, “You cannot live your life other than walking in the truth. Your means are as important as your ends.”

A person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea. . . . Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do (James 1:6, 8).

Stop & Think: September 13, 2025

Following

Faith never knows where one is being led, but loves and trusts the One leading. (Oswald Chambers, 20th century Scottish author)

Team players must have unlimited trust in their leaders. If the one in charge isn’t trustworthy, his or her followers will soon leave the team and move on to safer pursuits. It isn’t that we have to know the destination, but we must believe that the leader will teach and train us and take us there without fail.

Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith (Hebrews 13:7).