A New Year has begun; 2006!
Did you make any New Years Resolutions?
It is said that 90% of all New Years Resolutions
are broken before the end of January. --
That's why most people have stopped making them.
Actually I did make one resolution. -- I made
a resolution to preach shorter sermons this year. -- How does that one sound to
you?
But before you get your hopes up -- I
promise you; -- I'll guarantee you -- that resolution will be broken shortly!
-- Maybe even this morning.
However -- as we enter into a New Year -- we
do need to quiet our hearts before God -- & seek His guidance.
I would like to give you a Bible verse at
the out-set of this New Year -- which can be like a beacon of light -- to help
steer you in the right direction throughout this coming year.
The verse is found in the writings of the
Apostle Paul -- in
This is a verse to live by. -- It gives us
food for thought!
Paul writes in Phil.
This is one of the finest -- most complete
lists of things to think about that the world has ever known.
I consider this verse to be one of the most
important verses in the Bible.
For your life today is a result of your
thinking yesterday!
Your life tomorrow will be determined by what
you are thinking today!
You can become the person you want to be
simply by changing your thought life. -- You can literally change your life by
beginning to think different thoughts.
In our human existence -- one of the
blessings we have is in the power of choice!
-- The greatest power any person possesses is the power to choose.
You & I have the power to choose the
thoughts upon which we will think!
That is why Paul says -- "think
on." -- That preposition "on" indicates more than just casual
thought! -- It is determined thought! -- “think on."
It is no accident that some people are
beaten down -- defeated -- & anxiety-ridden -- while other people are
productive -- effective -- & useful.
It is no accident that some people take
problems & trials in stride -- & rise above them -- while other persons
who seemingly have as much concern for spiritual things -- are disoriented by
the least irregularity.
It all has to do with the way they think --
or the pattern of their thought life.
It is of interest to observe the way people
react to the tragedies & the disappointments of life: --
The same identical experience can happen to
two people.
The one develops a deeper life of commitment
-- while the other becomes embittered.
The one develops greater love &
understanding -- while the other experiences the paralysis of resentment.
The one responds with courage -- the other
with self-pity.
The one thinks positive; -- the other
becomes negative.
We don't -- by nature -- need any help in
the negative attitudes of self-pity -- resentment -- & bitterness.
We do need guidance in developing a positive
attitude of courage -- love -- & deeper commitment.
What you & I choose to let occupy our
minds reveals our characters!
We can -- & we do -- choose what we
think about!
Take this man Paul for an example.
One day he & his companion Silas were
whipped & cast into prison.
Their feet were fastened in the stocks.
They could neither sit -- nor lie down --
nor stand. -- Oh, the torture!
Amazingly -- these unusual men did not allow
resentment -- or discouragement -- or even terrible pain -- to dominate their
minds.
They chose rather to think of all that God
had done for them -- & they held a praise meeting then & there.
It had happened in
Years later Paul was in prison again -- at
One day the church at
The entire letter breathes an atmosphere of
serenity, joy, & sweetness.
This man of God had chosen just to forget
the cruelties -- the privations -- the loneliness -- the injustice of his
confinement -- & to think about something more inspiring.
To himself -- as well as to the Christians
in
My friends -- if you want to get the most
out of life -- then you must have something worthwhile to think about!
If you want happiness in your life --
remember that happiness is never achieved by dwelling on anger, resentment,
& unhappy memories -- thoughts that produce unhappiness.
C.W. Longnecker
wrote these words: --
If you
think you are beaten -- you are;
If you
think you dare not -- you don't.
If
you'd like to win -- but think you can't,
It's
almost a cinch that you won't.
If you
think you'll lose -- you're lost,
For
out in the world we find
Success
begins with a fellow's will --
It's
all in the state of the mind.
Life's
battles don't always go
To the
stronger or faster man;
But
sooner or later the man who wins
Is the
man who thinks he can.
(Found
in Lord of the Valley, by James R. Spruce, Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, ©
1993)
The Apostle Paul is telling us in our
Scriptural text -- that the best way to keep evil ideas out of our minds is to
concentrate on things that are good & pure & beautiful.
So my friends -- let high & noble
thoughts fill your mind -- in 2006.
Make a practice of meditating on various
aspects of truth & beauty.
Paul gives us a specific list of things to
"think on."
The preposition "on" is very
crucial; -- it means to deliberately set our mind -- or fix our thoughts -- on
these moral & spiritual values.
It is far more than just a casual thought; --
it is a determined thought!
The recurring use of the word
"whatsoever" is like the ringing of a bell.
It says to each one of us that all around
you are things that are that are honorable -- that are lovely -- that are
beautiful -- that are excellent.
Take the time to search them out!
But everything in our text has its climax in
one word -- the word think!
Allow me today to challenge you in at least
three areas of your thinking:
1.
First, Think About the Good Things in Yourself!
You are a very special person!
God has created you -- & God doesn't
make any junk!
God has given you special strengths -- &
spiritual gifts -- that are uniquely yours! -- God invites you to claim your
God given strengths!
Some people believe that humility means
feeling bad about them-selves.
They begin to think in terms of -- "I'm
so wretched, useless & worthless."
Do not dwell upon negative aspects in
yourself!
You can think your way into unhappiness
& failure -- with gloomy thoughts -- or you can think your way into
happiness & success!
If you begin to let your mind dwell upon
those special qualities within you -- (& don't tell me you don't have any!
-- for you indeed do!) -- Then you will begin to feel good about yourself!
Not prideful -- just a wholesome good.
So begin to claim God's gifts of strength He
has placed within you.
When we deny our strengths -- we deny God's
gifts -- & we deny God.
We are so often guilty of selling ourselves
short; -- but remember, the Bible says that God made us in His own image!
A lot of it has to do with how we choose to
look at the issues of life!
I love the story about the little second grader
who started the day by falling off the steps of the school bus -- cutting his
head -- requiring several stitches.
At recess he ran into another boy head on
& loosened two teeth -- & getting a big fat lip. -- In the afternoon he
fell & broke his arm; -- poor kid!
The school principal decided to take the boy
home before anything else could happen.
When they arrived at the boy's home -- the
principle noticed the smile on the boy's face -- & something in his hand.
Asking about it -- the boy
said: "I found this quarter on the
playground today. -- You know, I have never found a quarter before. --
This is my lucky day!"
It is said that depression comes from
looking at the broken fence.
Victory over depression comes from choosing
to look beyond the fence -- & seeing the roses on the other side.
My friends -- choose to see the good things
God has placed in your life -- the beauty of nature -- the strength of
friendship -- & discover that our lives are also loaded with many blessings!
2.
Secondly, Think About the Good in Others!
Now you don't have to believe this if you
don't chose too -- but as for me -- well, what can I say -- "I'm almost
perfect."
But everybody else I know -- has faults of
one kind or another.
It is so easy -- so human -- for me to zero
in on somebody else's negative aspects.
Can you identify with what I am saying?
I hope you understand I am talking here with
"tongue in cheek."
I'm not perfect -- & you know it --
& oh, do I ever know it.
If I don't know it -- my wife is quick to
remind me.
But the fact is -- all of us seem to focus
on other people's faults.
My friends -- learn by the grace of God to
look for & think upon the virtue & the goodness in other people --
rather than spending your time dwelling upon the negative.
If there be any virtue -- & if there be
any thing praise worthy -- think on these things. -- After all -- there is
something good in everyone!
You may have to look for it -- but it’s there -- for your discovery.
Take the devil for example; -- what can
anyone say good about the devil? -- Would you agree
with me that the devil is sure a hard worker??
If we can find something good to say about
the devil -- then surely we can find something good in others who are our
brothers/sisters in Christ!
Someone asked a dear saint -- who never
found fault: -- "What good is that old town drunk who lives down the
street from you?"
She thought for a moment & replied: "He walked by here the other day, &
you know, he is a good whistler."
A preacher was conducting a funeral for man
known by everyone to be a real scoundrel -- a villain -- a rascal -- a
reprobate.
The preacher was struggling trying to find
something decent to say about this wretch of a man; -- I mean, after all, it
was his funeral.
Finally in his frustration he asked the
question: -- "Does anyone here know something good to say about the
deceased?"
He asked that a couple times -- while trying
to think of what he could say: -- "Does anyone know something good to say
about the deceased?"
Finally someone volunteered -- "His
brother was worse!"
My friends -- look for & think on -- the
good in other people.
Don't constantly be putting other people
down.
Their personality may rub you the wrong way
-- but they are still a child of God. -- Look for & think on -- the good --
the praise worthy -- in them.
Don't get caught in the trap of being
critical of others; -- of being judgmental; -- of always finding fault.
Don't listen to gossip! -- And when someone
comes to you with a critical spirit -- tell them you don't want to hear it.
Think & talk only about the Good in
others!
3.
Finally, Think About the Good that Comes From God!
God is so good -- so kind -- so merciful to
all of us!
Why not begin each day with thoughts of
God's goodness toward you.
Memorize the promises contained in His Holy
Word -- & let your mind dwell upon those promises throughout the day!
The first good thing we each receive from
God is His forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
The Psalmist tells us -- "The Lord is
merciful & gracious; -- He is slow to get angry -- & full of unfailing
love. -- He will not constantly accuse us -- nor remain angry forever. -- He
has not punished us for all our sins -- nor does He deal with us as we deserve.
-- For His unfailing love toward those who fear Him is
as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. -- He has removed our
rebellious acts as far away from us as the east is from the west. -- The Lord
is like a father to His children -- tender & compassionate to those who
fear Him. -- For He understands how weak we are; -- He knows we are only dust”
(103:8-14
That -- my friends -- is good news!
The Lord thought of you -- when you were
lost in your sins & away from God -- & He sent His only Son as a Savior
to die for you!
Think of it! -- The sinless Son of God died
for sinners!
When we have been forgiven of our sins -- we
enter into a whole new way of life! -- In the new birth -- we become a child of
God!
We walk in light rather than in darkness.
We become recipients of God's grace -- His
strength -- His love!
We are told in the Bible that "whatever
is good & perfect comes to us from God above” (James 1:17
We need to sing that chorus over & over
--
"God
is so good; -- God is so good,
God is
so good -- He's so good to me.
"He
cares for me -- He cares for me,
He
cares for me -- He's so good to me."
Conclusion:
-- My friends -- God cares about your thought life!
Our actions need watching -- but so do our
thoughts!
When we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ
-- we ought to go from a worldly mind -- to a Christ-like mind.
If Jesus Christ is really the Lord of our
lives -- we must allow Him to have control of our thought life.
Jesus wants to take captive our every
thought.
Notice that Paul says in verse 9 -- that if
we will do these things -- "the God of peace will be with you."
So let high & noble thoughts about
yourself -- about others -- about God Himself -- fill your mind -- & you
will experience the peace of God!
This is positive thinking at its best --
& it is the surest safeguard against the power of the enemy!