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Mindsets, ideologies & truth
Ronnie Floyd
September 27, 2016
3 MIN READ TIME

Mindsets, ideologies & truth

Mindsets, ideologies & truth
Ronnie Floyd
September 27, 2016

The collision of mindsets and ideologies in America is real. Regardless of what our nation experiences or discusses, these varying mindsets and ideologies surface and collide.

Some say this ongoing collision of mindsets and ideologies will lead us to eventually implode.

Ronnie Floyd

When I was a young leader walking through a challenging time, however, someone gave me advice I have never forgotten: Remember things are never as good or as bad as you think. Truth about the situation lies somewhere in between the two.

This is very applicable for where things are in America today, as illustrated through the present campaign for president of the United States. In this time of competing platforms, parties and personalities, how do we deal with where things are in America? Here are four suggestions for this season in our nation:

1. Seek the real truth

Refuse to settle for media reports, political pundits and social networking to determine the truth about something. Information is available, so seek it out for yourself rather than hearing everything from a skewed perspective.

Spinning the truth does not make something the truth. Truth is only truth. Seek it. Discover it. Share it.

2. Determine to make a difference

For those of us who know Christ personally, we are citizens of God's Kingdom first and America second. Therefore, we need to determine to make a difference. The necessity to do so is upon us.

Making a difference is not about making your own rules and leading others astray in them, but making a difference for the good and furtherance of our future.

In this volatile climate in America, determine to make a positive difference.

3. Have a good attitude

Regardless of what goes on in America, those who have a relationship with God will one day win for all eternity. Knowing this, the situation in America today should not determine our daily attitude.

We need to set our thermostat daily with a good attitude. Keep perspective about everything. This is not and never has been easy, but it is imperative for us to have a good attitude.

Refuse to sound forth your negativity before others both privately and publicly.

4. Talk to God about our nation daily

When we pray for America daily, it changes the way we hear things, see things, and talk with others about our country. We need to pray specifically and passionately.

As followers of Christ, this is imperative. Otherwise, we will join in the chorus of differing mindsets as they sing forth their personal perspective and their slant on truth.

I think we should use this Scripture set forth by the apostle Paul to pray daily about where we are in America:

We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. …” (Colossians 1:9).

This is my prayer daily: “God, I appeal to You for You to overflow me with spiritual understanding; the ability to put things together biblically, spiritually and practically.”

Choose to make a difference. Now is the time to lead.

(EDITOR’S NOTE – Ronnie W. Floyd, online at ronniefloyd.com, is senior pastor of Cross Church in northwest Arkansas and immediate past president of the Southern Baptist Convention.)