“Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."
Philippians 4:8 (NKJV) God’s recipe for happiness isn’t a one-shot formula. It’s something you need to follow every day: Worry about nothing, pray about everything, thank God for anything—and, lastly, keep your mind on the right things. If you want to be happy, don’t fill your mind with lies. Don’t fill it with garbage. Instead, fill it with things that inspire you and make you a better person. The Bible says, “I will not put anything wicked in front of my eyes (Psalm 101:3 GW). Does that mean God doesn’t want you to have fun? No, of course not. He says it for your own good, because he knows what will truly make you happy. What do you think about the most in your spare time? The quality of your life is determined by the quality of your thoughts. One practical way to keep your mind on the right things is to not be critical—to avoid putting people down. Instead, think good things about others. If you can’t think good things, just don’t think about them. The Bible says, “Whatever things are of good report . . . meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8 NKJV). I’d like to build a church where people are always giving a “good report” about each other. You’re at the grocery store and someone asks you, “You know so and so?” And you say, “Yes, they’re a fine person.” That’s giving a good report. God’s formula for happiness is this: Worry about nothing, pray about everything, thank God for anything, and keep your mind on the right things. If you follow it, the Bible promises, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7 NKJV). Who’s the main ingredient of this formula? It’s Jesus Christ. Without him, the happiness formula will just flop. True happiness is the result of having a right relationship with Jesus.
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“The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear."
2 Timothy 4:16-17 (NLT) Eventually, everyone experiences loneliness. Loneliness isn’t prevented or fixed by beauty, wealth, fame, or success. Even marriage doesn’t protect you against loneliness. Many people marry because they’re lonely and divorce a few years later for the same reason. The apostle Paul’s life goal—even toward the very end when he was dying alone—was for other people know about Jesus. In 2 Timothy he talks about being brought alone before a judge. All his friends had abandoned him. But he kept his eyes focused on the spiritual needs of the people around him: “But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear” (2 Timothy 4:16-17 NLT). He focused on others because he knew everyone needed to hear about God’s love. He could have focused on his own problems, but instead he looked at what he could do to help others. It kept him from being lonely, even when he was alone. When you’re lonely, don’t have a pity party. Stop saying, “I’m alone. Nobody loves me; nobody even likes me.” When you do that, you’re just focusing on yourself. Instead, turn your focus outward and build bridges to others. You’ll find there are a lot of lonely people who are also looking for connection. How can you build bridges of connection? One way is by empathizing with other people’s needs. And remember to ask God to help you connect with others. Pray something like this: “Father, help me be a friend to people who need a friend.” What’s causing loneliness in your life? Extreme seasons of transition, separation, rejection, or opposition can lead to devastating feelings of loneliness. For instance, much of the world experienced loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic. But don’t let difficult times keep you from reaching out to people. Look beyond your own problems and find creative ways to connect with others. Empathy is the antidote to loneliness. |
AuthorTaken from Daily Hope by Rick Warren. Categories
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