August
31, 2003
LIVING
MORE ABUNDANTLY, part III
"I
have come that they may have life, and that they may have
it more abundantly" (John 10:10, NKJV).
A couple
of principles of healthful living and enjoying the more abundant
life include physical exercise and choosing what you think
about. Now that's an interesting mix.
I enjoy
walking, and sometimes running. Walking for me is a time for
meditating. Walking and/or driving, when I'm alone, gives
me the opportunity to sort through things and to meditate
and pray for God's guidance.
When
are your quiet times, when do you think and meditate?
What do you think about during these times? If you are a walker,
do
Do you think about the beauty of nature in your surroundings?
Do you think about your trials and troubles?
Do you think about how you've been blessed?
Do you think about being abandoned or rejected?
Do you think about the pleasures of this life?
Do you think about the hardships and difficulties of life?
Do you think about the future?
Do you think about the past?
Do you think about the bad behavior and faults of others?
Do you think about how you can benefit
and bless others?
Well,
if your like me, you've thought about all of this and more
too. We are what we think about, "For as he thinks in
his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7). Sometimes people
become depressed and discouraged because of all the bad things
that are happening to them in life. Some people live through
the most horrible experiences and come out winners on the
other side. What makes the difference?
Paul,
the Apostle of Jesus, was a man who suffered much abuse. "Five
times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was
beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked;
a night and a day I have been in the deep; - in perils of
robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the
Gentiles, --- in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often,
in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness--"
(2 Corinthians 11:24-27). And yet Paul came out a winner.
Paul
was totally committed and dedicated to the Lord, and he left
us some very helpful advise, "Be anxious for nothing,
but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving,
let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts
and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, 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 4:6-8).
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