“Whatever you do, don’t let that ball get by you!” That was the advice of the not-so-helpful parent to their child who was goalie at the soccer game. The trouble is, when we focus exclusively on what we’re not to do, we often end up doing that very thing! The better advise would be to ‘watch the ball.’ In order to stop doing one thing we need to start doing another.

 

Isn’t that true with other things in life too? Whatever bad habits we have, we try to stop them, telling ourselves, “Don’t do this, don’t think about that.” While it’s true there are some things we have to put off and cast aside, isn’t it better to think on what we’re going to put on?

 

For example, you could tell yourself that you’re going to be less critical of others, but pledging to yourself to be more loving and accepting will more effectively overcome a critical nature. What if today you decided you were going to approach everything and everyone (including yourself) with the loving heart God gave you? You won’t be perfect at it; I won’t either. But the more this is our focus, the more it becomes who we really are.

 

The same goes for being thankful. Determine at the beginning of the day that you are going to find reasons to be thankful in (not for) every situation, and you will find yourself reflecting thanksgiving. It won’t happen all at once, but it will grow in you, and over time it will define who you are. And have you ever noticed that as real thankfulness grows, so does peace? Not surprising as that’s exactly what Paul said. The thing about putting on virtuous thoughts and behaviors is that they tend to build on each other.

 

Focusing on ‘putting on’ virtue and not just ‘putting off’ sin is a winning approach. But you can’t do it alone and neither can I. To be good at this, to have this become embedded in our character, we need to stay close to God . . . all day long, moment by moment. It won’t work to just say a prayer for strength in the morning and then fight the battles on our own.
God’s design is that we have such a relationship with Him that it’s just natural to include Him in all our struggles and joys. Keep pressing in, moment by moment, trial by trial. His promises are true and He’s waiting right now to help you ‘put on’ love, peace, joy, and so much more.

 

“Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24