GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: October 9, 2022

Habits

The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken. (Samuel Johnson, 18th century English writer)

How do habits begin? You were taught to brush your teeth regularly and it soon became a regular activity that you rarely think about now. But how did it become your immediate response to react negatively or critically to something you hear or someone you meet before you have a more complete understanding? Beware of letting bad behavior become a habit.

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).

Stop & Think: October 8, 2022

The Whisper

Words that soak into your ears are whispered, not yelled. (Charles Martin, author)

In an emergency, shouting with a really loud voice is probably the best way to warn of impending danger or to cry for help. In public speaking, however, especially after a shouted emphasis, a whispered tone will likely gain more attention. And when it comes to romance, a whispered “I love you” will be much more effective.

And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12).

Stop & Think: October 7, 2022

Legacy

The most important thing you will leave behind when you die is your legacy. (Common counsel)

What happens to all your “stuff” after you die? There are laws that determine how estates are to be distributed, so it’s wise to prepare legal documents to make your wishes known. But we should want to leave something more important than wealth and property. Our lives of faith and examples of sterling character and moral integrity make the very best legacy.

The wise inherit honor (Proverbs 3:35).

Stop & Think: October 6, 2022

Living Right

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God. (Ronald Reagan, 40th U.S. president)

Could these be the “5 rules for success”? It’s difficult to live simply in 21st century America. Life is so complicated, and it demands more of practically everything. We should learn how to love better and to care more for others. Sadly, there is very little kindness in today’s rhetoric. Reagan was right, if we lived this way, God could certainly more easily bless and use us.

The lips of the godly speak helpful words . . . The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking. (Proverbs 10:32; 15:28)

Stop & Think: October 5, 2022

Victory

Victory is sweetest when you’ve known defeat. (Malcolm Forbes, late American entrepreneur)

Life does have its ups and downs, the mountaintop experiences and the valleys of depression. What helps an athlete get over an agonizing defeat is a later win. Once we’ve learned that defeats are not permanent, we can anticipate moving forward aggressively to the next contest. A win, then, can be especially sweet.

The Lord God is my strength and my song; he has given me victory (Isaiah 12:2).

Stop & Think: October 4, 2022

What Do You Have?

The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have. (Vince Lombardi, late football coach)

An attractive outward appearance may win beauty contests, but it doesn’t tell you anything about who the person really is at heart. Someone who is not gifted physically may never win a sports award, but when he or she displays their talent in music, drama, or art, we applaud them. Likewise, we recognize the scholar who gains knowledge and then teaches eager students.

Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies (1 Peter 4:11).

Stop & Think: October 3, 2022

Work

Our main secret is just to show up for work. (Chuck Swindoll, author)

Songwriter Bill Gaither made a similar comment about work habits: “Just keep doing what you know to do and do it with all the energy you have.” Our work assignments aren’t always easy or pleasant, but we are expected to fulfill our responsibilities anyway. Doing what we “know to do” and working at it with diligence is the best way to complete our job well.

Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed (2 Timothy 2:15). 

Stop & Think: October 2, 2022

Judgment

Good judgment comes from experience, and most of that comes from bad judgment. (Kerr L White, MD, author)

Our choices do make a significant impact on our lives, not only in the moment of choosing, but even more so further along in our lives. Bad judgments today might have immediate consequences (e.g., a speeding ticket), but repeating those choices regularly could result in a much more severe outcome. Making the right judgments today will have lasting benefits.

Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe (Proverbs 2:11).

Stop & Think: October 1, 2022

Truth

I believe we need both the light of truth and the guidance of tradition now more than ever. (John Tang)

Tradition alone does not determine what is true or false, but it does help in understanding the context in which it has been applied. When we want to know clearly about a specific issue, it is often helpful to consider how the word in question was understood originally. Update the current usage of the term, but don’t move away from its basic meaning.

Truthful words stand the test of time (Proverbs 12:19).

Stop & Think: September 30, 2022

Excuses

People are anxious to improve their circumstances but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound. (James Allen, 19th – 20th century English writer)

We often complain about our circumstances. We blame our failures on the weather, our teachers, or anything else that might give us an excuse. We’d like to see the government, our boss, or our spouse make a change. If only they would, we could do better. In reality, however, if we were to take a closer look at ourselves, we might just find that there’s where change needs to be made.

The Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Stop & Think: September 29, 2022

Priorities

Your greatest danger is letting the urgent things crowd out the important. (Charles E. Hummel, Tyranny of the Urgent)

Further: “There is an insidious tendency to neglect important tasks that do not have to be done today—or even this week.” They say that the squeaking wheel gets the oil, and that is probably true even when there are more important issues to care for. We are inclined to let the immediate need supersede the more important, so it’s important to establish and stick with firm priorities.

You ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things (Matthew 23:23).

Stop & Think: September 28, 2022

Aging

You don’t get older, you get better. (Shirley Bassey, Welsh singer)

Here’s a list of ideas to help us get better as we get older: Live realistically. Give generously. Adapt willingly. Trust fearlessly. Can we do all that? Certainly not unless we pay attention and take positive steps to improve our attitudes and behavior. Aging is often difficult with the loss of strength and flexibility, but we can make the choice to be positive and pursue healthy habits.

But the godly will flourish like palm trees . . . They flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green. (Psalm 92:12-14)