Today I was browsing through my new Guideposts magazine and found an article by one of my favorite authors Max Lucado and wanted to share some of it because it really touched my heart and reminded me that life can be tough sometimes, but God is here and He is good ALL the time, no matter what the circumstances may be.
I'm going to post some of the parts that really struck my heart so....here it goes...
Ever have one of those bad days? You know - not kind of bad, but bad. You mess up at work. You have a terrible fight with your spouse. Your doctor calls you in for some tests that sound pretty scary. A day seemingly beyond all redemption. When you have a day like that, you have several choices. You can retreat into paralyzing fear, act out inappropriately or just go into complete denial. But there's actually another choice: You can rejoice. Because it's the only real way out. "This is the day the Lord has made," the psalmist tells us. "We will rejoice and be glad in it." This day? This messy, painful, frustrating day deserves a chance? Yes. Every day, whether it includes a lost wallet, a dented bumper or the funeral of a loved one, deserves our full presence. They all come from God's drawing room. Still not convinced? Try these seven strategies the next time you find yourself trapped in a day that holds more than you think you can bear. You'll be surprised at how freeing they are.
1. Fret not: Anxiety will ruin your day. And it can be a real confidence killer. You can't add one more day to your life or more life to your day by fretting. Worry doesn't take away tomorrow's troubles; it only rids today of its strength. And why should you worry when you are surrounded by friends everywhere you go?
2. Forgive freely: Forgiveness is not about saying that what a person did is okay or that they're right. It's about making a decision, a choice to let the hurt and anger go. It frees you up to move on. Forgive someone and you'll discover that that person has virtually no power to hurt you anymore. Then you'll be able to focus on what you really care about: the joy of life.
3. Fear not: Fear is a joy-killer. it can make me stressed out, short-tempered, unhappy. What the opposite of fear? Trust. I do better when I trust in God. He's in control of my life. Place your fear in God's hands and you'll find that you have greater peace each day.
4. Live passionately: Discover your passions by looking back over your life for those sweet-spot moments where you've had 'Yes!' experiences. String those together, and you'll begin to see new possibilities for your life. Nothing gives the day greater joy than a good wallop of passion that comes from doing something from your soul.
5. Get Over It: If you look long enough and hard enough, you'll find something to bellyache about. So quit looking!! If you have health problems, you probably feel justified in complaining. Being in pain is no fun. But try this instead of griping: Take a break from your problems. Face each day determined to dwell on the positives. think about what you have to look forward to. Write a list and put it where you can see it. Try lending an ear to someone in need. Be especially kind to people with whom you have only one encounter - a waiter, a taxi driver, a store clerk. You may have only one chance to be kind. When you start living for others, it's pretty hard not to get over whatever's bothering you.
6. Collect your blessings: Recognize all that you have, and finding blessings to collect will become easy. The key to a joyous day? Make gratitude your default emotion. Say, "I can find things to be grateful for in this day." Let your thoughts be positive. Expect good things to happen. Seek out people who can encourage you. Over time, you'll find that God's list of blessings is longer than your list of burdens.
7. Color your world: The world is full of vibrant color. Don't let it lose an ounce of its luster. Assume this day is going to be good, and it will. God made it so.
Father God, I thank You for your gentle reminders that You are God and are in total control. I thank You for your amazing presence in my life and for the encouragement that You bring to myself and my family. I thank You for the amazing people that You continue to place in our lives. Help me to live a joyous life and forever sing praises to Your Holy name.
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