October 2014: A Word from Pastor Sun Hee

A Word from Pastor Sun Hee
The Gift of Positive Thinking

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice…Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God… Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Philippians 4:4, 6, 8

God has been very gracious to us here at SAINT PAUL this year, especially the last a few months. You can feel the Spirit moving in many places and you could almost feel the wind of many changes. It’s both exciting and at the same time, it could be unsettling. At times like these, I am reminded of the a few passages that I often go to for reflection and prayer.

Our thoughts are very powerful. They create our moods and shape our days. If we think we can’t—or think we can—we’ve often found it to be true later. More importantly, underneath these thoughts, we need to ask where/whom do I rely on when times of change or times of trouble. Where do I draw strength?

We might not be able to create positive thinking at times of deep despair but we can be reminded of the gift of positive thinking from the Source—Our Lord who gives us strength. This will shape our following thoughts, actions, our days, and so on. Just as God has shown us time and time again that He would be with us every step of the day, we move forward into our unknown yet amazing future at SAINT PAUL. That’s why it is important for us to be more prayerful and reflect upon God’s words, at such a time like this.

My hope for us in this new chapter of our life at SAINT PAUL is to Hope and Think positively. That isn’t some modern self-help catchphrase; Paul preached that same message two thousand years ago. What’s more, he wrote it from a jail cell! He lived what he taught.

God gave us reason, wisdom and intellect. He made us smart—smart enough to guard our minds and hearts from “stinking thinking.” So take Paul’s advice: think positively….and rejoice always. Think about some ways you can help yourself stay positive when in doubt.

A great way to combat negative thinking is to stuff your brain with your favorite Scripture passages. When doubts arise, instead of hearing “I can,” you’ll hear “I can do all things through [Christ] who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13) or “The Lord is my shepherd” (Psalm 23:1). Hope you enjoy learning about these passages today.

I am sure God will be gracious to us and guide us into what God holds for us!!