Daily Stop & Thinks

STOP AND THINK – Be the change you wish to see in the world. (Mahatma Gandhi, 19th-20th century leader of nonviolent nationalism movement in India)

Almost everyone wants to see changes, improvements in circumstances or in the political arena. Politicians often campaign on platforms promising change. But, as Gandhi suggests, real change has to begin with the individual. If you want to see change, make sure you change in the desired way. Then, you can be an example of change that others can follow.

In everything set them an example by doing what is good. (Titus 2:7)

STOP AND THINK – Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then, stand firm. (Abraham Lincoln)

Today we note the birthday of Abraham Lincoln, “Honest Abe,” the 16th president of the United States. In spite of many personal and political defeats, he persevered to become one of the most respected men in American history. He surely lived out what he said, standing firm when he felt he was right, an attribute we should all cultivate.

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. (1 Corinthians 16:13)

STOP AND THINK – Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where others see nothing. (Camille Passarro, 19th century Impressionist painter)

It’s a gift—the artist’s ability to see things differently from the way the less creative person sees them. Whether it’s a painter, a sculptor, or a building renovator—he or she sees the potential in a scene, a piece of stone, or a run-down house. Acting on their vision of what it could be, they offer beauty and restoration that encourages and benefits the rest of us.

[God] has made everything beautiful in its time. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

STOP AND THINK – All that we are is the result of what we have thought. (Buddha)

There may be a lot of ways to say what Buddha said. For example, Marcus Aurelius (2nd century Roman emperor) said, “Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.” So, we must be careful what we think about—what we put into our heads.

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable . . . think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)

STOP AND THINK – The block of granite which was an obstacle in the pathway of the weak becomes a stepping-stone in the pathway of the strong. (Thomas Carlyle, 19th century Scottish philosopher)

What is it that makes some people balk when an obstacle arises in their way and others immediately accept the challenge to remove or get past the barrier? Carlyle suggests that the problem may be “nothing more than a decision.” How we respond reveals more about us than about the obstacle. Are we weak or strong? Uncertain or decisive?

Who, then, are those who fear the Lord? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose. (Psalm 25:12)

STOP AND THINK – The wise man does at once…. what the fool does finally. (Baltasar Gracián, 17th century priest, philosopher, and writer)

Is this writer speaking of procrastination, putting off till later what we know we should do right away? Or, is he suggesting that you we can too easily rationalize what we need to do, finding excuses for delay that make us feel comfortable. That is, until it’s really late and we realize we were mistaken and had misjudged the timing. As Nike says, “Just do it.” Now!

For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. (Proverbs 1:32)

STOP AND THINK – The finish line is just the beginning. (From a tee shirt)

Slogans on tee shirts are often very thought-provoking, aren’t they? If you run a race, you would normally think it’s all over when you break the tape. But, usually there is another race ahead, so you continue to train to prepare for it—and then another and another. Life is like that, too. When one goal is reached, another challenge lies ahead.

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me. (Philippians 3:12-13)

STOP AND THINK – No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new heaven to the horizon of the spirit. (Inspiration Line)

A pessimist may take comfort that when things go wrong, that’s pretty much what he expected. But what kind of joy is that? What kind of anticipation of the future does that inspire? There are secrets to be discovered and new horizons to explore. Finding them will require a positive outlook and zeal to discover and follow through.

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor. (Romans 12:11)

STOP AND THINK – What you need when circumstances puncture your fragile dikes and threaten to engulf your life with pain and confusion is a shelter. (paraphrased from Charles Swindoll, pastor and author)

Swindoll defines the shelter as “a listener, someone who understands.” Most of us have found that to be true. What we really want is not necessarily someone who has all the answers and can quote the right texts, but a friend who will just listen, who will really hear what we are saying. We need a friend to hear and understand. That makes life easier.

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge . . . turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge. (Psalm 31:1-2)

STOP AND THINK – Fear is that little darkroom where negatives are developed. (Michael Pritchard, motivational speaker)

Fear is often associated with darkness, isn’t it? As children, we were often afraid of the dark and wanted to have a light turned on in our bedroom. In the dark periods in our lives, when we’re fearful about the future, we are most likely to have negative thoughts, to think nothing good will happen. At those times, we must pray for confidence, and think positively.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)

STOP AND THINK – If you believe you can, you probably can. If you believe you won’t, you most assuredly won’t. (Denis Waitley, writer, speaker, and productivity consultant)

Having confidence in what you are doing is certainly a strong component of success. It may not be a guarantee of success, but as Waitley says, if you think you can’t do something, you most likely won’t accomplish it. He goes on to say, “Belief is the ignition switch that gets you off the launching pad.” So, think positively and move on with confidence.

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. (Hebrews 10:35)

STOP AND THINK – A man’s true character is revealed by his response to adversity. (Austin Hatch, young survivor of two plane crashes and brain injury.)

Hatch, who lost his parents and two siblings in the crashes and had to learn to walk again, also said, “I don’t think I deserve what I’ve been through, but I’m gonna be fine.” And we think we have problems. We can’t always control our circumstances or avoid the pains of life, but we can control our attitude. Doing so can see us through great difficulty.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life to put off your old self . . . to be made new in the attitude of your minds. (Ephesians 4:22-23)