Remember the Best and Forget the Rest - Daily Hope with Rick Warren - May 23, 2021
2021May 23
Remember the Best and Forget the Rest By Rick Warren
“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.” Philippians 4:8 (The Message)
What do you choose to remember about the time you’ve spent with people? Do you remember the good experiences or the bad experiences?
The apostle Paul chose to remember the good, to focus on the positive, and to be thankful. He said to the Christians in Philippi, “Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse” (Philippians 4:8 The Message).
Paul did not have an easy time in Philippi. Acts 16 tells us that, when Paul went to Philippi, he was illegally arrested, whipped, humiliated, and thrown into prison before finally being asked to leave town. Yet he thanked God for his time with the Philippians.
Paul could have dwelt on the negative. He could have recalled the painful memories. But he chose to stop focusing on the painful things. Instead, he remembered the things he could be grateful for.
You can make a similar decision with the people in your life.
Stay in relationship with someone long enough and you’re bound to hurt each other. Maybe you’ve been hurt in the past by a parent’s short-tempered response or a friend's thoughtless word. Are you still holding on to that hurt? Does it keep you from enjoying that person today? If so, you’re focusing on the negative.
I’m not saying that you should deny your hurts or excuse the weaknesses in other people. That is psychologically unhealthy. And, of course, abusive relationships are a different story. But in normal, relatively healthy relationships, you can choose to focus on the good. You can choose to remember the other person’s strengths.
I hear wives say, “He’s a good man, but . . . ” (and I hear husbands say the same about their wives). Anytime you hear “but,” it means the emphasis is on the negative and not the positive. But the fact is, Mr. and Mrs. Perfect don’t exist.
In your relationships, choose to enjoy what you have. And to enjoy someone, you have to focus on their strengths, not their weaknesses. With some people, that takes a lot of creativity! But you can find something good in everyone.
And when you think about your past, remember that pleasant memories are a choice. Follow the example of the apostle Paul and choose to emphasize what you can be thankful for.
In both your past and your present, choose to be grateful for the good in people. Choose to remember the best and forget the rest.
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
Build a Firm Foundation of Prayer in the Next Generation!
“Perhaps the most important role you can play in the life of a child is teaching them to trust God through prayer. It’s the key to living with hope.” —Pastor Rick
That’s why it’s so important to strengthen the hope of kids by introducing them to Jesus’ model for prayer at an early age. And we’re excited to help you do that with Pastor Rick’s children’s book, The Lord’s Prayer: Words of Hope and Happiness.
Filled with thoughtful insights from Pastor Rick as well as stunning illustrations from award-winning artist, Richard Jesse Watson, this book brings the poetic scripture from the King James Version alive for readers young and old. It’s sure to become a meaningful bedtime ritual, a treasured memory, and by God’s grace, a legacy that bears good fruit for generations to come.
This book is a perfect way to share the beauty and richness of The Lord’s Prayer with the children the Lord has placed in your life. And it’s our thanks for your gift below to help Daily Hope take the Good News to more people everywhere. So please request a copy for yourself or a friend today, and thanks for your generosity!
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