Yesterday, I was almost in the middle of a major pile up on I-96 as I tried to fight traffic getting my son to my sister’s. As cars started to accelerate near an exit ramp, someone slammed on their brakes. So, a chain reaction of brakes happened and thank God I was far enough behind the car ahead of me (she came to a complete stop), to slow my car down by using the shoulder. 

The music was loud in the car, I grabbed my son’s arm and we slide over to the shoulder as I watched car after car behind me do the same. Like Marvin Sapp sings, “Thank God, I Made It… I Made It Through!” When I finally got off the freeway, I was in tears just thinking about what could have happened. The music was still loud and all my chile’ could do was snicker and say, “oh wow.” Teenagers are a trip I tell ya! That ticked me off so bad that I turned the radio off and shook all the way to my sister’s. It took me about a half hour to calm down before I went to my next destination but the negative thinking still invaded my spirit.

See, it doesn’t matter what causes it… traffic, the news, political rhetoric (a biggie with me right now… ugh!), someone else’s bad mood… once that chain reaction happens, it takes time to calm down. And that’s exactly how the enemy wants to knock you off your square; that is unless you, “Think On These Things.”

When I was younger, one of my most favorite ministers, Brother Andrew Carney, made us memorize and recite Philippians 4:8 at the end of each service; in the King James Translation none-the-less! I thought that was so corny back then. Hesitantly I would mumble, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” 

But now I find that when I recite the Apostle Paul’s timeless words, there’s a shift in my thinking. Though I didn’t understand what Brother Carney was doing back then, I certainly get it now. So when I got home, I blasted some praise music from Israel Houghton, danced around my room, made the dogs crazy and the devil mad!

But you know what… It worked. Praise God I was reverted back to my Westside Church of Christ days, sitting on the pew, kicking my feet as I grumbled out the words; True, Honest, Just, Pure, Lovely, Good Report, Virtue and Praise. 

Instead of dwelling on the negative today… Think On These Things! Oh, and try rocking Philppians 4:8 in the God’s Word Translation… good stuff! Thank you Brother Carney!

Rest In Peace Sister Bettye Carney and see you on the other side.