Learning To Remember the Best, And To Forget the Rest

In review of Philippians 1:3 it says, “I thank my God every time I remember you.”

Bottom Line:

Every time I think of you, I thank God.

What this means to me:

I should choose to think of the positive and every time I think of someone in prayer, I also thank God for them.

When it comes to remembering those around me, I can think of good and some bad experiences. The apostle Paul indicates; “I like to remember the good things about people, focus on the good times we’ve had, and remember the positive experiences.”

When Paul said this, he was not having an easy time in Philippi. Acts chapter 16 indicates that when he went to Philippi he was illegally arrested, whipped, humiliated, and thrown into prison before finally being asked to leave town. Yet he says, “I thank my God every time I remember you” (Philippians 1:3 NIV).

Paul could have dwelt on the negative. He could have remembered the painful memories. Instead he chose not to remember the painful things; rather, he focused on the things he could be grateful for.

Hurt from someone past or present can keep me from any enjoyment from being around them because my thoughts focus back to the negative. What I’m learning is that I need to be grateful for the good in people. Thinking pleasant memories are a choice. I can choose what I’m going to remember about the past.

Thinking differently does not mean that I need to deny the hurts I’ve had or that I excuse the weaknesses in other people. Its better to focus on the good, and choose to emphasize the strengths.

In summary, in order to enjoy others, I need to focus on their strengths and not their weaknesses. Of course with some people, this will take a lot of creativity. But I’m sure I can find something good in everybody.