If we look at the responsibilities of our life as a huge
chunk, we will feel overwhelmed and discouraged. We may want to go back to bed
and stay there until Christ returns, we may get drunk and drown our sorrows and
fears, or we may vegetate in front of the TV and eat unhealthy snacks.
We end up worsening our issues because they are still
there after our unsuccessful attempt to self-medicate. Life is still happening
all around us. Time still marches on.
When we fully surrender our life to Christ, His Spirit
moves into our spirit. The entire Trinity abides in us and empowers us to make
a difference in our life and in our world.
God plants seeds for a miracle in every trial. Trouble is
actually an adventure when we view it with our spiritual eyes. God makes
everything, even the most horrendous issues, turn out for our good (Romans
8:28).
We just need a positive attitude and faith in His
faithfulness to see God's blessings in our circumstances. A sense of humor
helps as well. We can laugh in the face of Satan's calamities and even chuckle
over our own failings or social blunders.
Keeping fit, eating fresh and organic foods, simplifying
our life, daily reading God's Word, fellowshipping with other Saints, serving
our family members and our church family and community, and walking in God's
Spirit restores our body to symmetry, our soul to confidence and hope, and our
spirit to strength and rejuvenation.
Think of something in your life that you can thank God
for and focus on it - flowers in the garden, a rainbow in the sky, pets,
children, a safe home, clothes to wear, food to eat, air to breathe, ears to
hear, eyes to see, and other things that we usually take for granted.
This new focus and attitude reduces our stress, lowers
physical and psychiatric drains on us and improves our optimism about life. We
surround our self with spiritually minded people, activities and atmosphere. We
listen to praise music and participate in praising God with every breath we
breathe.
Prayer:
Father God, You are our provision, and we hope in You alone
(Lamentations 3:24). We know that You will raise us from the dead and take us
home with You for eternity (Acts 24:15). You justify us and give us Your peace
and grace (Romans 5:1-3). When we hope in You we are never disappointed,
because You show us Your plan for our life (Romans 5:5).
By the help of Your Holy Spirit, we rejoice in Your hope
and are filled with Your joy and peace as we maintain our belief in You (Romans
12:12, 15:13). Even when we see nothing in our life to hope in, we eagerly and
perseveringly wait in hope to see the salvation of our God (Romans 8:24-25). We
look forward to our blessed hope - the glorious appearing of Your Son and our
Savior, Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13-14).
Thought for the
Day:
Christ in us
gives us the hope of sharing in His glory; and as He and God our Father, who
love us and console us with everlasting hope and grace, always comfort our
hearts and establish us in their peace, they guide us in our good words and
works.
- Colossians
1:27-28; 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17;
1 Peter 1:13-14; Hebrews 6:19-20, 7:19
1 Peter 1:13-14; Hebrews 6:19-20, 7:19
