New Year. New Beginnings.“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 (NIV) 

My favorite quote of the famous author of “Roots,” Alex Haley, is “find the good and praise it”. This of course is very similar to what the Apostle Paul teaches us in Philippians.

At times it seems that we live in a world filled with negativity and strife. But Paul reminds us that there are good and positive aspects of life, and that we should seek them out and praise them in a spirit of positive gratitude.

This doesn’t mean there are no negative aspects of life,, but that we should maintain a balanced approach to life.

What are some of the ways we can find the good and praise it? We can:

• Recognize and praise actions that align with God’s principles.
• Appreciate and praise the beauty of nature, art, music, and the prople we love.
• Identify admirable qualities in others and commend them for their excellence. 
• Encourage and uplift those who exhibit praiseworthy traits.
• Reflect on the goodness you’ve encountered and the things you’re grateful for.
• Offer sincere compliments to those around you.
• Acknowledge your appreciation for their talents and strengths.
• Celebrate our own and others’ achievements, no matter how big or small.
• Share positive news and encourage conversation that highlight acts of kindness and love.

Finally, as you go about your day make a conscious effort to choose positivity over negativity. When faced with challenges, look for the lessons and opportunities for growth.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for the Apostle Paul’s reminder in Philippians 4:8 for us to seek out the good and praise it. Open our eyes to the goodness that surrounds us and grant us the wisdom to praise it.

In Jesus’s name, we pray. Amen

This devotional was written by Gary Hensley and read by Julie George.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

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First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.