H onor God
O utreach to the seeker
M inister to those in need
E quip the believer
January 18, 2012
Knee-mail to St. Pauls family from Pastor Bryan,
For two weeks we’ve noted and celebrated the benefits (emotional, relational, financial, physical and spiritual) of optimism of having a positive outlook. Martin Seligman’s book Learned Optimism documents these truths and stresses that anyone can learn, acquire or develop an optimistic outlook. How? “… becoming an optimist consists not of learning to be more selfish and self-assertive, or presenting yourself to others in over-bearing ways, but simply of learning a set of skills about how to talk to yourself when you suffer a personal defeat.”
I wonder what a blind, skirt chasing enslaved Samson said to himself to achieve one final great victory for God’s people. You can see a frightened, self-pitying Elijah cowering alone in a cave, despite seeing God miraculously bring down fire from heaven to defeat idol worshippers of the day but I wonder what his self-talk became after the still small voice of God called him to action.
Here are 2 verses we might use of self talking when dealing with the prospect or aftermath of defeat: “All things work for good for those who know the Lord and have been called according to his purpose…” Romans 8:28
“If God is for us, who can be against us.” Romans 8:31
“…in all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us…”
“… nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of Christ.” Romans 8:37-39
“We rejoice in our suffering, because suffering produces perseverance [that] must finish its work that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:3-4
Uplink: Holy Spirit, change my self-talk with words of Scripture that I can be all God has created and called me to be, moving more and more toward my full spiritual potential. Amen.
