Today, I explore the theme of "great exchanges for a Great Life," emphasizing the importance of transforming our negative attitudes into positive ones. Drawing from the devotional booklet "Dying We Are Reborn," I discuss how our thoughts shape our behaviors, highlighting the biblical advice to focus on what is true and admirable. I share insights from an anonymous poem called "The Fasting Life," which encourages us to exchange harmful habits, such as anger and fear, for virtues like patience and gratitude. This episode aims to provide practical applications for living in a way that not only pleases God but also enriches our own lives. Join me as we delve into these exchanges and learn how to foster a more fulfilling existence.

Takeaways:

1. This episode emphasizes the importance of exchanging negative attitudes for positive ones in our lives.
2. The concept of focusing on the positive aligns with biblical teachings and psychological principles.
3. We should practice thinking about what is true, honorable, and worthy of praise in our daily lives.
4. The poem shared in this episode highlights various exchanges to foster personal growth and peace.
5. By shifting our mindset, we can reflect God's peace and live a fulfilling life.
6. Practical applications are suggested for making these exchanges in our attitudes and actions.

Links referenced in this episode:

1. www.bible805.com
2. https://wp.me/pazrJD-1ln this is the shortlink to the images for the podcast on the Fasting life

Hi, welcome to the Hobo Soul podcast of road advice from the Bible and from me, Yvon Prehn, someone who's a little further down the road of life. I'll talk to you every weekday for about five to 10 minutes, with periodic longer talks on serious Saturdays.

Let's get started with our topic today, which is episode number 38,

Great exchanges for a Great Life.

It's after Lent and after Easter, but I'm continuing to share from the devotional booklet In Dying We Are Reborn because I messed up on the scheduling and I left out some content that I think will be very helpful to all of us. There are two days that I quoted. For two days of the devotion, I quoted an anonymous poem, the Fasting Life, which I'll share in just a few minutes.

It's about exchanging various bad attitudes and habits in our lives, from negative ones to to more positive ones.

This is a thoroughly biblical idea that is also grounded in really sensible psychology, where we know that we become what we think about and we don't change behavior by thinking about negatives.

For example, if we tend to be an angry person, and we know Jesus wants us to be a people of peace, which he does, if we're to reflect him and be a growing disciple, we won't grow in peace if we think like this, if we just think to ourselves, don't. Don't be angry. Don't be angry. Don't be angry. Don't get mad at stupid slow people so I can't get around them and can't get to where I'm driving to.

Don't yell. Don't yell. That kind of thinking will only lock into the grooves of our mind. Anger and yelling.

Instead, we need to follow the biblical pattern of what the Apostle Paul said when he told the believers in Philippi.

In the midst of a lot of church unhappiness and fights and all kinds of things that were going on, he said, instead of thinking about all the negative and telling yourself, don't think negative. Don't think badly about people. Don't do this or that. Here's what he said.

He said, " 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.

Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me, everything you heard from me and saw me doing, and then the God of Peace will be with you."

You see, when we focus on the positive, not the negative, even if you're telling yourself to quit doing this or that, that's when you will reflect God's peace.

So in the next while we're going to look at each pair of characteristics from the poem that I'm about to read to you, we'll look at Bible verses that encour to live in the positive way and then I'll give you some application suggestions. But for today, just sit back and listen to this poem.

It's entitled the Fasting Life.

Fast from judging others, Feast on Christ dwelling in them.

Fast from fear of illness. Feast on the healing power of God.

Fast from words that pollute.

Feast on speech that purifies

Fast from discontent, Feast on gratitude,

Fast from anger, Feast on patience,

Fast from pessimism, Feast on hope,

Fast from negatives, Feast on encouragement,

Fast from bitterness, Feast on forgiveness,

Fast from self concern, Feast on compassion,

Fast from suspicion, Feast on truth,

Fast from gossip Feast on purposeful silence,

Fast from problems that overwhelm Feast on prayer that sustains

Fast from anxiety, Feast on faith.

Now if you'd like to download this poem and some PDFs that go with it, go to www.bible805.com under the infographics tab.

Here is the link: https://wp.me/pazrJD-1ln This is the Shortlink to the images for the podcast on the Fasting life

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Now, tomorrow we'll start through the list and learn to make exchanges in our attitudes and actions that will not only help us please God, but will truly help us live a great life.

That's all for this podcast, for transcripts, links to related material, and much more to help you learn to know, trust, apply and teach the go to www.bible805.com for now, let me end with this benediction and prayer.

May you walk each day surrounded by the gracious love of the Father, guided by the gentle wisdom of the Holy Spirit, and conscious of the astoundingly real presence of Jesus, who will walk with you until you're no more a hobo soul, no more a transient wandering heart, but at home in the Kingd prepared for you with your God forever. Amen.