One Sunday while I was getting ready for church, I clicked onto the worship service of Elevation Church. Pastor Steven Furtick often preaches with a focus on the practical and how our emotions (or baggage) affect our faith walk.
On this Sunday, he carried around a magnifying glass. Pastor Furtick reminded his audience, “What we magnify is what we live with.”
I took a deep breath, then wrote down the quote. It was perfect for my current transition and other reflections in my journal.
It is true that what we constantly think about affects our emotions, our goals — even our relationships. So if we magnify how someone has hurt us in the past, then we continue to live within that pain.
If we focus on a past trauma and let it seed itself into our psyche, then we continue to live in the past and within that horrible experience.
If we talk about a circumstance, ask people to “pray” about it over and over, “share” how we’re feeling with the purpose of justification or vindication — then we continue to live inside that baggage.
Magnifying the problem, whatever it is, forces us to live inside the victim camp.
One of the topics I have noticed on social media is the constant reminder that we are living in “evil days.” Of course we are. Read the books of Daniel and Revelation for a-ha moments.
But if we continue to magnify the evil, then we won’t see the amount of good that is still happening.
People are caring for others, sometimes to the point of sacrifice. Nonprofits still do good work. Hospitals and medical workers thrive on keeping folks alive. Schools teach kids, and not all government workers are zombies. Some politicians are called to serve God within our systems.
Yes, terrible things sometimes happen. But wonderful things also happen. Why can’t we magnify those?
One of my rituals is to watch the CBS Sunday Morning program, especially any reports by Steve Hartman.
The focus is always on the positive as Steve and the other reporters find those out-of-the-way places where people are doing something good for each other. Each segment is unique, interesting and I often learn something new I can share with others.
No grumblings about how terrible the world is. Even within the tragedies of earthquakes, hurricanes or warfare — this crew finds the light surrounded by darkness.
I wish we could do the same with our ordinary lives.
So I am trying to be more intentional about what I magnify. To focus on the positive. To look for the hope that is apparent when I forget myself and try to help others. To stop thinking and talking about the negatives and instead — look for those nuggets of positivity.
Scripture reminds us how to think and thus, how to act: “Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about” (Philippians 4:8 TLB).
So let’s look for the hope that is growing around us. Let’s magnify the good stuff and stop living in the gloomies.
©2021 RJ Thesman – All Rights Reserved
Hope Shines with essays about positive attitudes. Check it out on Amazon, Kindle and in Large Print.
I love this! Thanks for sharing!
Amy
I appreciate the comment. Thank you.
One of my favorite scripture quotes. Once upon a time I taught a kids’ Sunday School class on the truth in it. I even tried to make a game board with it. Hmm. I wonder where that is?
Sounds like a fun project to find it – or make it again.