Shortly before he was executed, Paul wrote: ‘I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.’ (Philippians 1:12–14 NLT)

Later, he wrote, ‘Always be full of joy in the Lord.’ (Philippians 4:4 NLT) Paul had a PMA: a positive mental attitude. He couldn’t control his environment, but he chose an attitude that enabled him to overcome it.

Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones said: ‘Have you realised that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you’re listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself?’ When you meet people, do you tell yourself they will let you down? When you face new experiences, does a voice within you tell you you’re going to fail?

A man came upon a Little League baseball game one afternoon when he was walking in the park. He stopped and asked a boy about the score. He responded, ‘Eighteen to nothing—we’re behind.’ The man said, ‘I bet you’re discouraged.’ The little boy replied, ‘Why should I be discouraged? We haven’t been up to bat yet!’

What a difference an attitude of faith makes! The last words recorded in the Bible are these: ‘The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.’ (Revelation 22:21 NKJV) Have faith—God will give you the grace to handle it!