Your thoughts may not change your circumstances, but they do change you.
This point was evidenced in the life of Victor Frankl. Frankl’s life was reduced to almost nothing by the Holocaust. The Nazi regime took so much more than his freedom. They stripped his life bare, took all his possessions, and shaved his head. His parents, brother, and wife all died in concentration camps. Once an esteemed psychiatrist among his community, Frankl was now a slave in the notorious death camp, Auschwitz.
Frankl endured the daily grind of hard labor, digging a water main tunnel all alone. He faced starvation and daily abuse at the hands of Nazi guards. He could have seethed with hatred and self-pity, but instead, Frankl realized that the Nazis could never rob him of his attitude.
In his book “Man’s Search for Meaning,” he wrote of his time in the camp,
“We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
The Nazi’s thought they took everything from Frankl, but there are some things that cannot be stolen. You see, Victor Frankl did not choose his circumstances, but he sure did choose his thinking. You have the same choice. Don’t let your circumstances rob you of your thoughts. Help is on the way.
Here is the helping hand of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:8,
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
True – Are your current thoughts objectively, factually true?
Honorable – Are your current thoughts holding the highest view of others?
Right – Are you thinking about the things God declares are right?
Pure – Would you show your thoughts right now on a IMAX screen for all to see?
Lovely – Would “mom” be happy with your thinking right now?
Commendable – Are you thinking about how you could speak well of someone?
Excellent – Can you identify the one thought lately, which you need to pry out of your mind?
Praiseworthy – Is your thinking controlled by thankfulness?
So remember, change your thinking, change your life.
Thank you for the reminder this morning. It is so easy to slip into the selfish, self-centered thinking mode.
Thanks, Todd. I remember my father reading “Man’s Search for Meaning.” Your questions are a great way to respond to the list from Philippians.
Wow, so good! 2Cor 10:5 being intentional about doing this.
Todd,
Insightful as ever!!!
Pastor Darryl
Pastor Todd
Always an inspiration to read your deep down thoughtful encouragements on what to keep our focus on during challenging times. We must always remember that “GOD meets us right where we are, no matter the situation.” HIS love and forgiveness is enough. HIS strength and direction fortify us.
Praise GOD for you and everyone who keeps reaching out to anyone who wants to “PRESS ON,” as the Apostle Paul said.
By the way, last weeks Masters visit was wonderful. Felt like I’d gotten a peek into HEAVEN with their beautiful voices. 🙏
What a wonderful reminder! This book continues to impact me…
Thank you pastor Todd!
PT as the old commercial used to say, “Thanks, I needed that.”
Charles Swindoll has a similar quote: “The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you… we are in charge of our Attitudes.”