Daily Stop & Thinks

STOP AND THINK – Frankly, most of the things in life are not as important as we think they are. (Robert J Foster, author)

Whatever is of the moment usually is the most important thing to us. And, of course, what is happening in the present is important. But, we should not be so concerned about the immediate that we neglect planning and preparing for the future. Later on, today’s “important” situation may be forgotten in the press of what has yet to occur.

And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber . . . The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light (Romans 13:11-12).

STOP AND THINK – Truth without love is brutality. Love without truth is hypocrisy. (Mike Lee, American pastor)

“The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” That’s what we affirm we will speak when we testify in court. And the truth sometimes hurts. Maybe we should reserve the truth only for those who have the need and right to hear it. Even then, we must present it in a way that’s helpful and not harmful. We should always speak the truth in love.

Love is patient, love is kind 1 Corinthians 13:4. Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth 1 John 3:18.

STOP AND THINK – Patience can be a difficult discipline but when we learn to be still, blessings come our way. (Author unknown)

Someone has said that patience is a virtue possessed by few. Why is it so difficult to be patient? Undoubtedly, we have been impacted by a society where everything is rush-rush. Immediate gratification is the goal, and very few take the time to just sit and think. But, if we try to pause and meditate, good things often come to mind that lead to great achievements.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him (Psalm 37:7). Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city (Proverbs 16:32).

STOP AND THINK – “Frodo, we don’t get to choose the time we live in but we do get to choose how to spend the time we are given.” (A line from a story by JR Tolkein, British Christian apologist)

Lewis’s statement is simple and easily understood. We don’t choose when or where we are born or who our family will be. The question, then, is how shall we respond to the time, place, and people in our lives? Those responses will determine not only how we enjoy life and relationships but what benefit we may bring to our community.

Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away (Psalm 90:10).

STOP AND THINK – What others think is right, they think is right; and what others call wrong, they call wrong too. (J. C. Ryle, 19^th century Anglican bishop)

In listing “Dangers for Young Men,” Ryle included “Fear of Man’s Opinion.” He wrote, “It is terrible to observe the power which the fear of man has over most minds.” Do we ever nod in agreement with someone’s idea, or fail to express a contrary opinion, when we really believe they are wrong? We must speak up against what’s wrong and for what’s right.

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist (Ephesians 6:14).

STOP AND THINK – Integrity is choosing your thoughts and actions based on values rather than personal gain. (Author unknown)

In modern America we emphasize individuality and personal freedom. As important as those values are, they sometimes make us think and act without regard to others and their hopes and dreams. We must learn to make our choices, not on the basis exclusively of what will benefit us, but on the essential values of family and community.

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).

STOP AND THINK – Logical thinking will discourage you; theological thinking will encourage you. (Charles Swindoll, pastor and author)

Swindoll’s first statement seems illogical itself, doesn’t it? You would think that thinking logically would always be the smart thing to do. But his point is that people need to look at life, not just from the human perspective, but from God’s. A right understanding of God’s plan and purpose will enable you to think properly about life and living.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).

STOP AND THINK – Happiness is the real sense of fulfillment that comes from hard work. (Joseph Barbaras, Italian-American animator, director, and producer)

When you have done your work only half-heartedly, you never have a real sense of accomplishment. You know you could have done better. But when you really work hard at a task—especially a difficult one, you gain a sense of completion and satisfaction. That may be as close to happiness as you can come in your work life.

All hard work brings a profit (Proverbs 14:23). You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you (1 Thessalonians 4:11).

STOP AND THINK – Love is the only fire that is hot enough to melt the iron obstinacy of a creature’s will. (Alexander MacLaren, 19^th-20^th century English minister of Scottish origin)

When faced with someone who stubbornly holds a position contrary to yours—even when you’re convinced you are right—it is extremely difficult to come to an agreement. Arguments and logic don’t work. Harsh words just make things worse. But a soft answer, offered in love with the other person’s best interest at heart may very well do the trick.

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger (Proverbs 15:1).

STOP AND THINK – Let your dreams, not your regrets, take command of your life. (Robert Schuller, pastor and author)

Many people seem to be so wrapped up in things that didn’t go right—their failures and disappointments—that progress in their lives has almost come to a halt. Schuller encourages us to think of what we’d like to see happen. He says, “Build a dream, and the dream will build you.” Surely, it’s better to dream and look to the future than to live a life of regrets.

Know also that wisdom is like honey for you: If you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off (Proverbs 24:14).

STOP AND THINK – Often the biggest thing blocking the light is our own shadow. (Ken Duncan, Australian professional photographer)

Duncan was undoubtedly thinking of shadow and light as it relates to taking pictures. Most of us, at one time or another, have ruined our photos when our own shadow blocked the light on the subject. That’s a good analogy of what life is like sometimes. There can be so much of ourselves in a situation that we fail to see the light.

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

STOP AND THINK – Never place a period in your life where God only meant to place a comma. (Gracie Allen, American comedian with her husband, George Burns)

Sometimes things happen in our lives that bring us to a sudden halt. We think the particular circumstance is impossible to overcome, and we want to quit. Reflecting on the situation, however, might help us see that it isn’t all over yet; there is further opportunity to finish the task. Let’s not be too quick to quit. Perseverance will often result in a worthy achievement.

Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us (Hebrews 12:1).