Positive Approach

I recently read the true story of a Little League coach who had to make an outlook choice about his right fielder. The little guy who was playing that position had already dropped two fly balls hit to him and after dropping the third fly ball threw down his glove and marched into the dugout exclaiming “No one can catch a ball in that darn field.” I couldn’t help but wonder if the coach was able to keep everything in proper perspective—first his response (with a chuckle mixed in there), then working on his player’s fielding and attitude skills.

How are we when we find ourselves in difficult situations? Do we focus first on the circumstances that caused or are causing the problem, or do we focus on our response?

As you walk through your day I would encourage you to keep in mind the great counsel we are given in Proverbs 17:22. The writer of Proverbs counsels us to leave room in life for a God-centered, positive approach to challenging moments. That is why Proverbs 17:22 gives us this prescription—“A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.”

Father, don’t allow us to take ourselves or life so seriously that we overlook the importance of a cheerful outlook. Thank you for life and the joyful moments you have hidden within it. Help us to find and to appreciate each one as we go through our days.

Gifts from Our Heavenly Father

A joy of watching a person celebrate his or her birthday is to see that person open gifts. The wrapped gifts are only appreciated when a person takes the time and effort to remove the wrappings to discover how they’ve been blessed.

So it is in life as God’s blessings are only discovered as we unwrap them through our daily lives. Are you looking for your Heavenly Father’s gifts as you are going through your day? They are there, we just have to unwrap them by appreciating them.

Thou wilt make known to me the path of life; In Thy presence is fullness of joy; In thy right hand there are a pleasures forever (Psalm 16:11).

In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians
  5:17)

Father, keep our eyes open for your love and gifts of grace as we experience them throughout the day you have allowed us to walk through.

Rejoice and Be Glad In It!

It is no coincidence that Psalm 118:24 reads ‘This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” This verse’s strong command highlights the power of a godly choice to transform our lives. God is always seeking opportunities to empower us when we act on His instructions.

So, how’s your day? If you want to take it to another level, choose to “rejoice and be glad in it” regardless of whatever challenges cause you to think or feel otherwise.  I assure you that your day will instantly improve.

“Father, bless my brothers and sisters today to take you at your word and then bless them as they walk in obedience to you over what they are thinking, feeling, or experiencing. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen”

No Way

“Never, He just won’t do it! He just can’t do it!” This is a pretty strong denial but that is just how strong James makes his argument against the thought that God would ever do that which is not best for His children. James is so strongly opposed to this thought that he even goes as far as creating a new word in the Greek language to say this could never happen—“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone” (James 1:13).

So as you go through a day and something you view as bad happens to you remember to respond in line with this truth. Don’t give in to an inappropriate “WHY (did you let this happen to me God)?” but choose to think “WHAT (would you have me to see, learn, or do in light of this situation Father)?” I assure you that if you are able to make this shift in outlook you will be able to ‘consider it all joy’ when you experience various challenges throughout your day (James 1:2).

“Father, bless your children this day with a reminder of your love for us. And when those reminders get a little stiffer, help us not to forget the truth that you are always good and have promised to always be good to us.”

Take care and go discover God’s sufficiency for every situation you face.

More Than Deserved

One of the surprising aspects of reading Malachi 3 is to note that the people of Israel complained about God not holding up His end of the covenant, because of the difficulties they were experiencing, but God points out that their difficulties were a result of their covenant unfaithfulness! Yet, God’s grace and faithfulness kept Him annihilating them, as the covenant stipulated. Note the beautiful words of Malachi 3:6—7:

“‘For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed. From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,’ says the LORD of hosts.’”

Have you thanked the Lord for His grace & faithfulness towards you today?  Remember, even in the midst of experiencing God’s correction we are blessed more than we deserve.

Thank You Lord

How appreciative are you? How appreciative are you of your salvation? Yesterday we noted that we will never fully appreciate our salvation if we don’t realize how greatly it changed our lives. The writer in Hebrews 2:3 describes God’s work on our behalf as “so great a salvation.”

Here are 5 reasons we have to be appreciative for our great salvation and our new life in Jesus:

Our great need—                Ephesians 2:1—3.
Our great ignorance—          Ephesians 4:18.
God’s great sacrifice—          John 3:16.
God’s great guarantee— John 10:27—30.
God’s great reward—            John 14:1—3.

If you haven’t so far, take a moment to thank the Lord for what He’s done for you in delivering you.

Pray for the Lord to impress on your mind 1—2 individuals to invite or to give the gospel to.

Is Everything in Focus?

As we start our week I wanted us to remember the words of Paul to the Elders from the church in the city of Ephesus. They are the words of a man whose life had one focus—to be ready to step into eternity.

“But my life means nothing to me. I only want to finish the race. I want to complete the work the Lord Jesus has given me. He wants me to give witness to others about the good news of God’s grace” Acts 20:24

May we not forget that this is to always to be our focus as well. Make it such today.

Approaches to Life

An old Yiddish proverb says, “The girl who can’t dance says the band can’t play.” As believers we can take the same approach to life when things are not going right. We can easily complain “Life is not right for if it was I would not be going through what I’m going through.”

But let us not forget that what we experience in life is not a collection of random circumstances. We are people of purpose and God has promised to use everything we encounter for His glory and for our benefit in the process (Romans 8:28—“We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him. They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose.”).

So, take a moment and consider once more our memory verse for this month—

“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.”

—Galatians 6:9

People of Hope

Of all people Christians, children of the sovereign God, should be known as people of hope for we believe that everything is moving towards one supreme goal—the glorification of our Father. To not have this mindset is to adopt a pessimistic view that we and our actions do not matter.

Let us never allow ourselves to resemble a pessimist for we then miss golden opportunities that are presented to us in life. Or, as Michael Levine has said, “A pessimist is someone who complains about the noise when opportunity knocks.”

We should not be surprised then that Paul tells us to in 1 Corinthian 10:31 “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” So, whether you are voting (please do that today), working at your job, speaking with a neighbor, helping someone in need, driving, interacting with your kids, being challenged by an issue in life, or whatever you do, remember that these things matter to God and are great opportunities for God to reveal Himself if you will see them as such.

So, what’s in your day? Remember, what you encounter and what you do will become great opportunities for you depending on how you view and respond to them.

“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.”

—Galatians 6:9