Not that I even really know what that is... but I am much more the glass half full kind of girl... or without one stinkin' drop even in the glass.
That's why this Philippians 4:8 challenge is starting to get a little rough.
Because I am just done with positive thinking.
Give me some griping. Some complaining.
Like this morning. I started out a post on things of virtue, the next phase of Phil. 4:8, but just didn't have the words. I'll finish that one later. I looked over lecture notes, packed up my stuff, and started the short walk to the building next door, an internal complaint session in my mind. "Why does it have to be raining? Why can't my class just be in the same building as my office? Why can't we have a tunnel so that I don't have to get wet?
And then I thought of Kami, trekking across UK's campus from her apartment in the pouring rain. And of people who work outside in the pouring rain all day, every day. And people who don't have a job.
It's a tug-a-war within myself sometimes. James tells us that the tongue is hard to tame, and I get that... but so is my mind.
Paul says that sometimes he does stuff that he doesn't even want to do... hating what he does, but not being able to stop it.
Lord, I need help being positive...
But it is so much more self-gratifying to gripe.
About other people. At Caleb. At Wallace when he doesn't answer text messages.
I could go on and on.
"Finally, my brothers and sisters... "
After you have rejoiced, and prayed, and given thanks, and found peace, think on these things...
And Paul, the same Paul that hates stuff that he sometimes does yet does them anyway, goes on to explain why we need to rejoice and pray and give thanks and find peace and think on the whatsoevers.
"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."- Philippians 4:11.
I have LEARNED to be content.
Learned- manthano... to learn through practice and habit.
Content- autarkes- sufficient, strong enough, INDEPENDENT OF EXTERNAL CIRCUMSTANCES, contented with one's lot.
No matter what.
Thinking on the positives, the true, honest, lovely, pure, just... the virtuous and the righteous...
gets my eyes off of me and my external circumstances. It focuses me on my internal circumstances... my eternal circumstances.
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
"Christ in me, the hope of glory."
As I think about that, how can I not be Pollyanna?
Sometimes we just need a little heart check.. or a big one... or a little bit of digging into His Word.
Thank you, Lord, for being patient.
Continuing my series on Philippians 4:8 where I'm trying to develop a new habit of thinking on His things...
But habits take practice, and practicing sometimes mean we make mistakes...
But He is good. All the time.
Linking up with Holley Gerth today...
Oh yes, I also thank the Lord for being patient. It's not my virtue, but I am SOOO glad it is His!
ReplyDeleteI love Psalm 28:7 (NLT) "The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all. Y heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving." I believe that after your 31 days you will fill more like this Psalmist and you will be closer to your goal
ReplyDeleteThanks of my heart check this morning. I used to not be a naturally positive person. I had to learn through the scriptures.
ReplyDeleteYou have such a beautiful heart. We all struggle with those feelings. You just keep focusing on the word! I am going to share your series for a Facebook thread that started today! Thanks for the encouragement.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, one of those days. Sometimes it is difficult to see the positive side of life. Thank you for your honesty and for sharing your true feelings. Thank you also for the reminder to allow our thoughts, feelings, and emotions to run their course instead of fighting them.
ReplyDelete...and ALL the time He is good! Love how you are allowing your time in His Word control your emotions, your thoughts and your actions. Love your transparency here too! Thanks for giving us permission to simply be real!
ReplyDeleteI used to be a lot more Pollyanna and positive, but I'll admit, in the last couple of years with everything that has happened to me, I've struggled with being positive. I can be sort of positive about others and about things outside myself, but when it comes to me, it is a real struggle to not be grumpy and complain and whine about how hard things are right now. I'll admit too that I've looked at more than one scripture verse that has admonished me to be cheerful or joyful or patient and have wanted to hurl my Bible across the room! It's hard, this whole fleshly human existence, isn't it? God bless you!
ReplyDeleteLearned contentment... not feeling contentment. Sometimes we miss the obvious don't we? The feelings really don't always come with the choice. But the obedience... that always brings along goodness somehow. I read tenacity in your words here, even though you weren't feeling it. :) Glad to find your post through Holley's linkup!
ReplyDeleteLearned. Oh so true. Contentment is such a day by day, moment by moment attitude. I think we always have to check ourselves.
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