Wednesday, March 4, 2026 – Lent Three

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (Philippians 4: 8)

               So, how are your New Year’s resolutions going? Not so good, eh? Then what about your Lenten aspirations? What did you give up for Lent? O wait, is that chocolate I see smeared on your face?

                It is not easy to keep the promises we make for ourselves. But take heart. I recently read an article by a psychologist, Dr. Jennifer Aspari, with the provocative title: “Forget Willpower: Let Your Values Drive Helpful Habits Instead.” Basically, she was using research that “supported the idea  that habits formed by personal values are more durable than ones formed by guilt or an attempt at self- control. Willpower is a finite resource that burns out.”

She offers scientific reasons for this, about how our brains are wired to create conflict between doing what might good for us and succumbing to the impulse to give up.  The apostle Paul was way ahead of her when he wrote: “But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.” (Romans 7: 18 -20, The Message Bible)

Just because we know we should do something doesn’t make it any easier to do. “Should seems innocent, yet focusing on what you should do fuels internalized pressure and a sense of guilt…”  Not that honest self-examination is a bad thing, I would counter, but if all it does is make one feel like a loser, a failure or  incompetent, then it has failed it purpose. Confession is good for the soul but so is grace and forgiveness.

The doctor wants us to focus on our values. “Values are like a compass. They point us in the direction we want to go and allow us take steps to get there over time, rather than having to reach a target immediately.”  She asserts that we should (?) “focus on the qualities you want to exhibit and your sense of identity.” Who are you; not what are you. What are your intrinsic values for living? What motivates you from within? I would think that if your core values are strong, then they will support your goals and purposes, maybe even your resolutions and Lenten promises.

But again, Jesus is way ahead of her: “It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.” (Luke 6: 48 -49)

Our text from Philippians speaks to paying serious attention to the values we gain from following Jesus Christ. They are empowering values, a solid bedrock of faith, thought, action and conviction. The Message Bible restates this encouragement as doing one’s best “by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.”  It will take some willpower, I would think, to help us stay on course in the pursuit of following Jesus Christ. Values need to be cultivated, nurtured, shaped, refined. It takes prayer. It takes the support of the Holy Spirit. “Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.” (2 Timothy 2:22)

Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Better, yet, is to take positive action on your thinking.

 Prayer:

                O God of Grace and Love, motivate us with your Love to follow Jesus Christ. May we fill our minds and thoughts with the qualities which mirror Christ’s relationship with us.  Help us to persevere in our faith, both in word and deed.  Lead us not into temptation to fail, but to keep our eyes on Jesus, in whose name, we pray. Amen.