| Good Morning Everyone, Our theme for this month: “Resilience” Our Bible verse for today: “I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 (CSB) Our thought for today: “Optimism is a force multiplier” There’s an old leadership principle used in both the military and in the corporate world which states, “Optimism is a force multiplier”. As we approach any situation, we must do our best to plan and prepare, and we should bring all the forces or resources we have to bear on the situation. But it’s also vital to approach the situation optimistically, expecting a good outcome. A healthy dose of optimism multiplies your efforts and increases the impact of every other resource you bring to bear on the situation. Optimism is a force multiplier – in the military, in the business world, and in life. A university once conducted a study regarding the long-term academic performance of incoming freshmen over the course of their four years in college. They discovered that an optimistic attitude about their studies was a much better indicator of academic performance than was SAT scores. Likewise, the American Heart Association conducted a study of men who had suffered similar kinds of heart attacks. They sought to determine which kinds of men were most likely to have long-term recovery and survival. They measured factors like improved diet and exercise, but they also evaluated attitudes. They discovered that those who were optimistic about their recovery prospects were 300 percent more likely to have good recovery and long-term survival. Resilient Christians train themselves to be optimistic. First, they resolve to do their best in all situations, thereby ensuring that they have done their part to be successful. Then they also pray hard and seek guidance from the Bible and from other Christians. But once they have done those things, they then trust the Lord and they expect good outcomes. Pastor and author Gordon MacDonald once termed it “vital optimism”. “Vital” as in “urgent”, but also “vital” as in “alive, energetic, and thriving.” Resilient Christians are alive, energetic, and thriving – briming with optimism and the expectation of good things to come. Remember, how we think about things matters. We tend to attract to ourselves the outcomes we expect. I encourage you to train yourself to be optimistic. Expect good things. God Bless, Pastor Jim |
| Copyright © 2021 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved. |
-
Follow
Following
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
Oak Hill Baptist Church 