Well-spoken words bring satisfaction; well-done work has its own reward.
Proverbs 12:14 MSG
Don’t let a situation dictate your reaction.
You choose your words.
You choose how you work.
You can’t always choose what you do but you can always choose how you act doing it.
Before your day even begins, get with God and choose together how you will react to the wide world you live in.
You will have many opportunities to worry today.
Some things you worry about all the time.
Some things you can’t anticipate until they are upon you.
Either way, you can collect worry like it’s your job or you can choose peace.
You have peace with God through Jesus Christ and because of that you can receive peace from God in every situation.
That doesn’t mean the day before you is not full of challenges, it means that you have already decided to face them with the peace of God ruling your heart rather than the anxiety of man.
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
Colossians 3:15 NIV
Recognize that out of all the decisions you will make today, the most important one will be what you choose to hold onto God’s peace or your worry?
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4 NIV)
Rejoicing is the theme of the book of Philippians, even though the circumstances with which it was written hold no reason for such a sentiment. Paul is under house arrest in Rome waiting to go before Caesar. He is cut off from his friends and chained to a guard 24 hours a day. He is not comfortable and does not know what the future will hold.
And that is the point.
We don’t rejoice because life is good, we rejoice because God is good.
We don’t rejoice only when good things happen – God works through all things.
We don’t wait to rejoice until we have all the answers, we rejoice knowing that Jesus does. And he loves you and will be with you whatever comes.
Set your heart to rejoice in Jesus today. Who he is, what he has done and that your eternal future is secured by his sacrifice. Your present circumstances are provided for by the strength of his grace no matter what they look like. We like to rejoice when we get our way but sometimes the harder way is what we actually need to grow in. Set your mind to delight in a security of his love and the mercy of his grace.
Rejoicing when there is nothing to rejoice about is a divine gift that will transform you.
And if you ask Jesus to open your eyes to see what you have right now to rejoice in, he will.
Take the gift and throw a party.
You don’t have to be brave unless you are facing something that requires it.
It means that you are facing something that requires more than a step of faith, it requires a walk of faith.
Being brave means not living by sight, not making your choices and decisions based on what is but on what can be.
Being brave means getting up every morning and keeping your word when you don’t want to.
Stating your boundaries and holding to them even you don’t feel like it.
Choosing to believe new truths instead of old lies every day.
That is being brave.
Being brave is choosing to take the leap and then getting to work when your feet hit the ground.
Keep going.
Keep believing.
Keep hoping and trusting God.
Don’t lean on your understanding because it can only be based on your past experience. Jesus wants to help you create a new future, not relive the past.
Trust him.
Look to him for guidance.
Ask him for strength.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do and everywhere you go, he will keep you on track.
Prov 3:4-5
Be Brave.
You will have many opportunities to worry today.
Some things, you worry about all the time.
Some things, you can’t anticipate until they are upon you.
Either way, you can collect worry like it’s your hobby or you can choose peace.
You have peace with God through Jesus Christ and you can receive peace from God in every situation.
It doesn’t mean the day before you isn’t full of challenges, it means that you have already decided to face them with the peace of God ruling your heart rather than the anxiety of man.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. (Colossians 3:15 NIV)
One handful of peaceful repose Is better than two fistfuls of worried work— More spitting into the wind. (Ecclesiastes 4:6 MSG)
Recognize that out of all the decisions you will make today, the most important one will be what you choose to hold onto: God’s Peace or your worry?
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4 NIV)
Rejoice is the theme of the book of Philippians, even though the circumstances with which it was written hold no reason for such a sentiment.
And that is the point.
Don’t rejoice because life is good, rejoice because God is good.
Don’t rejoice only when good things happen- God works thru all things.
Set your heart to celebrate Him and your mind to delight in Him everyday.
When you do, your life and your things will look different to you even though they have not changed.
Rejoicing when there is nothing to rejoice about is a divine gift that will transform you.
Take the gift and throw a party.
Rejoice is a choice.
I read a phrase last week on an eating disorder website that I think is true in all areas of life: “obsession breeds discontent”.
Why? Because rarely do we obsess about what we possess but we obsess about what we lack.
It begins with a thought.
A thought turns into a story.
A story becomes an identity.
An identity that directs an attitude.
An attitude that impacts your choices.
I don’t have…
I don’t look like…
I am not…
I will never have…
I will never look like…
I will never be…
But you can choose your thoughts. You can choose where they go and stop them in their tracks if needed.
What lays the foundation of your contentment or your discontent?
Your thoughts.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
(Philippians 4:8 NIV)
Be a rebel.
Break the cycle.
Choose truth.
Fill your mind with good thoughts.
Ask God to show you how.
How are you thoughts impacting your life?
Cindy Grasso 