Focusing on the Negative Brings No Return

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things."-Phillipians 4:8 & 9

Jesus asks us in Matthew 6:27, "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"  We know the answer is "no", but so often we get caught up in the drama or the negative in life and forget this one thing: in the grand scheme of things, love is all that will remain.

When people or things bother us, such as workmates, politics, family, friends, institutions, policies, and schools, what should we do?  Certainly if it's in our power to change something for the better, we should. But if it isn't, what should we do? 

Some things we just need to let go of. Some issues require that we deal with them, lovingly. (Matthew 18) But when Paul said he had peace that surpassed all understanding, he meant it. (Phil 4:7) He was able to have peace - when arguing for the sake of Christ, when in prison, when facing trials - all because of the grace of God in his life. 

"I would not waste my life in friction when it could be turned into momentum."  -Frances Willard  

We have such a limited time on this earth. Isn’t it most important to focus on the positive instead of the negative - to provide solutions instead of making the problem our focus?  It's true that what we focus on, we get. But, each and every day, we can invest what little time we have into making someone else's life just a little bit better. 

I hope this is our goal. Focusing on the positive and providing solutions to problems brings a much greater return.  Don't get stuck on the negative, and it won't get stuck on you!

Reaching for the Gold

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." -1 Corinthians 9:24
 
Several years ago, a lady at my church had given me a CD recording from a women's meeting I had missed the week before. "Oh thanks," I said, not really caring that I had missed it. Little did I know how much that message would change my life.

On the way to an evening small group, I popped the CD in my CD player on the drive there. The woman on the CD began to speak about "running the race" of faith. She explained that Olympic runners don't get up at 5am to win the silver, or bronze medal - they want to win the gold! At that very moment something struck a chord within the inside of me. I had been dating a guy for a couple of years, and our belief systems were very different. He came from a different faith background than me, and my growth as a Christian at my new church wasn't doing much for our relationship. I knew at that moment I had to break it off - this wasn't what I wanted for my life. I wanted more.

Though the breakup was hard, I felt so relieved! It was like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Even though I couldn't see the full picture, and I had been scared to leave before, I knew that God had something better for my life. The relationship had become unhealthy, and I was struggling to grow. It definitely wasn't God's best for me. Now I am married to a wonderful man that had I not made that choice years earlier, I would've never had the opportunity to know. I am so thankful God rescued me out an unhealthy situation, so I could be given a better chance to "run my best race."

God desires that each of us run the race of faith - to the very best of our ability. Is there anything you feel you're settling for in your life? Nothing is going to be completely perfect, but is there anything you're not doing or are doing now that you'll regret later? Think about your passions - the things you enjoy - when you're sitting on your deathbed will there be anything you wished you would've tried?

What is the gold in your life? What is it that God has placed in your heart? Go and do that thing.