Think About What You Think About? Criteria

THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT… CRITERIA

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

ARE THERE SOMETHINGS I NEED TO CORRECT IN MY LIFE? WHAT IS BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL MODIFICATION… IS REAL CHANGE POSSIBLE OR AM I FOREVER TRAPPED?

Every sport I know has rules… to be a good player we must have a clear understanding of the rules. When I taught school sometimes I used BEHAVIORAL MODIFICATION. Behavioral modification can use PEER PRESSURE to help accomplish class control. I gave each student 3 pennies at the beginning of the week. If their behavior was not acceptable I would take one of their pennies. If in the week they lost their 3 pennies, I would take the penny of the person in front or behind them. At the end of the week if there were enough pennies the class could buy an hour of free time or music. The PEER PRESSURE of the class was amazing. No one wanted to lose a coin for someone else’s behavior or lose their free time.

I WOKE UP DURING THE NIGHT WITH THIS THOUGHT: DO YOU EVER THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT?

Wow, that is a powerful thought. As an old preacher I carry several burdens about the generations to follow in the ministry. One of my great concerns is the LACK of ACCOUNTABILITY and the LACK of SELF-EVALUATION of the younger generation. QUE SERA SERA, WHAT WILL BE WILL BE?

Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Hebrews 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

LET US THINK ABOUT DISCIPLINE. I FEEL LIKE THERE ARE TWO AREAS OF DISCIPLINE.

First what is discipline? The practice of training to obey rules or codes of conduct to improve, grow and develop. It is the use of rewards and punishment to correct disobedience. To train to keep certain standards of behavior. We often come to view DISCIPLINE IN A NEGATIVE LIGHT. We have developed the attitude that CORRECTING BAD BEHAVIOR IS BAD. The lack of CORRECTION will always lead to DISOBEDIENCE and REBELLION.

The lack of discipline and correction will give birth to the SPIRIT OF ENTITLEMENT and SELFISHNESS… We tend to forget to teach CHOICES HAVE CONSEQUENCES. Your daily choices do not just have consequences for you. They will have consequences for others.

There is discipline by others. Discipline by others is often a sign of IMMATURITY. We face great problems because of laziness and procrastination. They are enemies of better living patterns. We can establish DAILY MENIAL HABITS and ROUTINES that are counter-productive to improvement. To be disciplined by others can be embarrassing.

The goal of every parent and teacher is Self-discipline. We need to see self-discipline as the goal of maturity. There may be 3 areas of self-discipline. PREVENTATIVE HELP to establish clear expectations and guidelines to head problems off before they are problems. Then there are areas where we can be SUPPORTIVE HELP to help establish personal goals. Then we probably need some CORRECTIVE HELP when we step out of bounds.

LET US THINK ABOUT THINKING ABOUT THINKING… DISCIPLINE IS FOR YOUR OWN GOOD… DISCIPLINE IS ABOUT CORRECTION, BEHAVIOR TO MOLD AND CHANGE NEGATIVE THINKING AND NEGATIVE BEHAVIOR.

LIFE IN THE PALACE MADE DAVID LAZY AND HE GOT OUT OF PHYSICAL AND MENTAL SHAPE. LET US THINK ABOUT THE COST OF THE LACK OF SELF-DISCIPLINE… David’s life of ease became painful.

2 Samuel 11:1 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.

David’s decision cost dearly. David lusted after Bathsheba. He had a sexual affair. He fathered an illegitimate child. He had a good soldier killed. His son raped his daughter. Another son killed his other son in revenge. David never saw his son for 5 years. Absalom tried to destroy his father… Remember the story Nathan told David of the killing a little pet lamb?

2 Samuel 12:7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

If David had disciplined his heart, he would have been in battle and this sin would have never occurred.

I READ ABOUT THE GREAT FOOTBALL PLAYER WALTER PAYTON… HE PLAYED 13 SEASONS FOR THE NFL CHICAGO BEARS.