Have you ever heard the saying, “Work smarter, not harder”? It’s a phrase that’s stuck with me since I was a kid, thanks to my dad’s constant reminders. Whether we were repairing a car or building something in the backyard, my dad always told me to work smarter, not harder. And that lesson has stayed with me all these years.
So, I recently did a search to find out what other sayings people live by. I found some classics, like “Treat others the way you want to be treated,” “Honesty is the best policy,” and “You reap what you sow.” But there were also some I hadn’t heard before, like “be the change you wish to see in the world” and “life is too short to hold grudges.”
But one statement was not on the list that I feel should have been, “If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you!” How powerful is that? It’s a reminder that what we focus on is what we’ll find. We’ll surely find the negative if we’re always looking for it. But if we’re intentional about seeking out the good in our lives, we’ll find that too.
And I’ve seen this firsthand in my own life. When I focus on the good things in my life, no matter how small they seem, I feel more fulfilled and optimistic. But I easily become overwhelmed and discouraged when I get caught up in the negative. It’s a choice we all have to make – what will we focus on?
So, let me ask you: what do you want to focus on? Do you want to be the kind of person who’s always searching for the good or someone who’s constantly looking for the bad? It’s up to you. But just remember – if you search for good, you’ll find favor. And who doesn’t want a little more favor in their life?
Dr. Draper Rogers is Pastor of Young Families at Gardendale First Baptist Church and a contributor to The North Jefferson Herald.
