Throwback Thursday

Continuing with Throwback Thursday, enjoy this article by Rev. Terry Pugh from the March/April 2010 issue of the Texico Harvester:

THREE THINGS YOU CONTROL

There are only a few things in your life that you actually control. You don’t have any control over the weather, the stock market, oil prices or world peace. You don’t have control of the cars on the road around you. You don’t control the people on the job or the choices your children make. You may have some influence, but ultimately, they will make their own choices.

For many people, the thought of not being in control is irritating. It disturbs you. You have your goals, your lists and a plan of action. Whoa be unto anyone that interferes with the plan. The fact is, one phone call can throw all your plans into disarray. Someone else can make a decision and the direction of your life is altered.

It is not all futile. There are three things that you have complete control over. If you take responsibility of these three things, your life will be full, meaningful, and worthwhile.

The first thing that you have complete control over is your attitude. Your attitude determines your outlook on life. It affects your behavior. It determines the quality of your life. It is important that you do everything possible to control your attitude.

You can improve your attitude by changing three things in your life. Your attitude is affected by your thoughts. The Apostle Paul instructed the saints in Philippi to control what they thought about. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” Philippians 4:8. You can change your attitude by changing your thoughts. Look for the positive in every situation. Very few things are perfect; so don’t be disappointed just because all of your expectations are not met. Very few things are 100% bad, so look for the good, even in bad circumstances. A bad attitude never makes the situation better. A bad attitude makes it impossible to enjoy life on a daily basis.

You can improve your attitude by associating with positive people. There are some people who find fault and criticize as though there is a reward for it. These people gripe and complain in every situation. Nothing ever pleases them. These people brighten the room, simply by leaving it. When you spend your time with these people, you will be influenced by their negative outlook. They will make it difficult for you to see the good that surrounds you.

You can improve your attitude by developing a grateful heart. Even when trouble enters your life, there are so many good things that surround you. When you encounter difficult times, you can’t ignore the pain and loss. However, you can also recognize the blessing that continue to flow in your direction. The apostle Paul doesn’t allow us any circumstance where we can be ungrateful. “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” 1 Thessalonians 5:18. You don’t have to be thankful for the circumstances that you are dealing with. You do have to be thankful while you are in the circumstances.

What happens to you, does not determine the quality of your life. How you respond to what happens, is what makes the difference. What lies behind you and what lies before you, pales in significance compared to what lies within you.

The second thing that you have complete control over is your character. Men of genius are admired. Men of wealth are often envied. Men of power are feared. Only men of character are trusted. You may not possess genius, wealth or power. You can still possess character.

Character is constructed by the building blocks of moral choices. You become a person of character by making right choices. You become a person of character by refusing to shy away from hard choices. Character requires courage. It requires that you stand for your convictions, even when it will cost you personally. People with character are trustworthy, dependable and reliable. They are people who are worth knowing.

You may not control very many things in life. You do have complete control of whether you are a man or woman of character.

The third thing you have complete control of is your relationship with God. This one is somewhat different. Before you can have a relationship with God, He must first extend to you an invitation. Jesus said “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day” John 6:44. A relationship with God is a privilege and an honor. Once you have felt the pull of God’s spirit, the responsibility of your relationship with Him rests squarely on your shoulders.

You determine how long the relationship will last. You determine how strong you relationship with God will be. The apostle James wrote, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up”

James 4:8-10. According to this scripture, once you draw nigh unto God, then he responds by drawing nigh unto you. You are expected to cleanse your hands and purify your hearts. You have the responsibility to repent and humble yourself.

A rich young ruler knelt before Jesus. He wanted to know what steps he needed to take to inherit eternal life. When Jesus explained what he had to do, the young man walked away. The important thing to note is, Jesus let him walk away. Jesus didn’t beg him to stay or try to negotiate with the young man. The full responsibility of the relationship rested squarely on the young man. If he didn’t pursue a relationship with Jesus, then there would be no relationship.

An artist painted a picture depicting Jesus knocking on a door, as it is described in Revelation 3:20. After he had completed the painting, he asked another artist to critique the painting and let him know how he should improve it. After the artist studied the painting, he observed that the painter had neglected to paint the doorknob on the door. The painter then explained, “There is no handle on the outside of the door. The only one who can open the door is the man on the inside.”

You don’t have very much control over the circumstance that you encounter in your life. However, you do have control over the most important things in your life. You control your attitude, your character, and your relationship with God. When you accept responsibility for these three things and take control of them, you will greatly improve the quality of your life.