Funny, as Bingley and I began our walk, yours truly was in a bit of a grumpy mood...dreading the frigid air and wishing I were sitting in front of a hot fire with a good book. Unfortunately, that program doesn't work with an active puppy. Sigh.
So out we trudged...or at least I trudged. Bingley fairly danced with delight as he seems to relish the cold weather.
But when we arrived at the greenway, the dawn greeted us with a spectacular sunrise--hot pinks gradually transformed into neon oranges and eventually faded to warm yellows. As we crossed the bridge, I stood slack-jawed at the beauty and had to take a quick picture. Who would have thought such a foreboding winter's dawn could yield such beauty, such wonder? And how many people were awake early enough to witness God's light show? Probably not all that many--yet our relentlessly gracious Lord seems to simply enjoy creating glory for glory's sake. Thank You, Father.
And forgive me for my initially crummy attitude! Before setting even one foot outside this morning, I had allowed my mind to be filled with dread and negative thoughts about yet another day of frigid cold. "Where are we living--Siberia?" I griped to myself. Not a great way to begin your day.
Our thoughts are so important, aren't they? Wherever we allow our thoughts to run--positive or negative--our attitudes and actions will inevitably follow. As Marcus Aurelius declared "Such as are your habitual thoughts, such also will be the character of your mind; for the soul is dyed by the thoughts."
That's why God's Word admonishes to think rightly. Because the content of our thinking determines the character of our living. And we have the choice as to what we will dwell upon in our thoughts. Here's what God urges us to think about--
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Phil.4:8)
If we think about the mistakes or failures of others (or of ourselves), if we dwell upon what we lack or dislike, if we focus upon the debris of gossip or greed or guilt...we will find our characters stained by irritability, discontentment, worry, ingratitude...and sin. But if we will choose to dwell upon those things that God prompts--that which is pure or honorable or true or excellent--well, we'll discover contentment, peace, hope, and joy welling up from within...even on frigid January days!
So on this cold weekend, might we remember to guard our thoughts and choose to focus upon that which the Lord encourages--the good, the lovely, the praiseworthy. And who knows...in the process we might just get to see a touch of God's glory!
To God be the glory.
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