November 28, 2017 (Tuesday)
Monday’s blog offered Biblical advice from the Apostle Paul. For the sake of fitting the little essay into the limited space, my quotation from Paul was incomplete. The rest of what he said was this: “My friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don’t ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise. You know the teachings I gave you, and you know what you heard me say and saw me do. So follow my example. And God, who gives peace, will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9 NIV).
There are many of us who consistently practice keeping our minds on all the thoughts and actions that are opposite from those suggested by Paul. Some of us have trained ourselves to become addicted to negative thoughts. When these negative-thinkers repeat the little story about the little engine that could (you remember, he chugged up the hill, hoping to reach the top, repeating to himself over and over, “I think I can, I think I can,” and then, having reached the top, coasting downhill, he cried out, “I thought I could, I thought I could” a cry of victory because he did it). The negative thinkers among us never tell the story, because in their minds the poor little engine never makes it to the top of the hill.
I remember a saying I heard when I was a boy and told my grandmother, “I can’t.” I spoke Texan very well, and it came out, “Ah cain’t do it.” Her reply was always the same: “Cain’t never did nuthin’!”
Next time you’re tempted to join the naysayers and pessimists, please read Philippians 4:8-9 and “keep thinking those good thoughts.” You can break the habit of being negative. Give it a try.
“My friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don’t ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise. You know the teachings I gave you, and you know what you heard me say and saw me do. So follow my example. And God, who gives peace, will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9 NIV).