Think About Higher Things

…Whatever is lovely…think about such things.  Philippians 4:8

 Props:  ladder

             How many of you have ever had someone tell you, “I want you to go far in life”?  Everyone starts out at a certain place in life–rich or poor, super-smart or average, athletic or not.  From that point, you can go up or down.  You can improve or get worse.  (Climb and come down the ladder as you speak, coordinating your words with your actions).  You can make more money or you can make less.  You can learn more or forget everything your teachers taught you.  You have the opportunity to improve your skills or to weaken them.  With God’s help, you can succeed if you want to.         

            Success does not begin with what you do, but with what you think.  If you want to go farther and “climb higher” in life, you have to “climb higher” in your thoughts.  All around you, people are thinking and talking trash.  Go higher than them: think about what is lovely, or pleasing.  You have to choose to speak well of others.  Speaking bad about others will knock you down.  You can think about positive things instead of negative things.  Focus on what is greater than the bad around you.  Fill your mind with better things.