Most
people have the same basic needs in life. We all want to be loved, accepted, safe,
healthy, financially stable, and understood for who we are and what we need. Therefore,
God calls us to allow Him to love us, and others through us, as we go
throughout our day.
We
can spread love and acceptance to everyone that God brings our way by smiling
at strangers that we pass on the street or in a store, and by chatting with
people near us in lines, in elevators, at sporting events, etc.
Starting
a "gratitude" journal is a very therapeutic habit. Each night, we can
write down five things that happened during our day for which we are grateful.
Even things that we often take for granted, or dark clouds that had a silver
lining.
Items
such as air to breath, water to drink, food to eat, love and attention from our
pet and friends and family, modern conveniences, help in our times of need, health
and safety, etc. We can count our blessings and record them in our journal.
We
can also erect boundaries around our body and soul to keep people from abusing
us mentally, emotionally and physically. Rather than being codependent and
self-abusive, we remember that we are a person too, with the same needs as
others in our life. It is our responsibility to make sure that our needs are
met too.
Resentment,
grouchiness, anger, depression, and other negative emotions give us a clue that
something is wrong in our life. There is some need not being met, and/or some
expectation from other people that is taxing our current resources.
Taking
an inventory of our thoughts and feelings will help us to relieve these burdens
and balance our actions, thoughts and emotions. As we throw our self on the
mercy of God, He brings health to our body and soul, as well as peace to us in
our circumstances.
In
order for this to happen, we must first find the humility to ask God for His
help (1 Peter 5:6-7; 2 Thessalonians 3:16). This relieves our anxiety and
guards our heart and our mind through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).
Prayer:
Father
God, we call on You in our times of trouble, and You deliver us through the
trial. This puts a song of praise on our lips and we glorify You (Psalm 50:15).
When we ask, You supply; when we seek You, we find You; and when we knock, You
open the doors wide for us (Matthew 7:7).
You
give us Your Word to give us peace in tribulation, because it teaches us to
have courage and to take heart, knowing that Jesus gave us His example by
overcoming the world - and He abides within us now (John 16:33). By trial and
error, we find success in life by trusting in and relying totally on You for
Your salvation, deliverance, provision, love, grace, nurturing and unity with
You each moment of the day.
Thought
for the Day:
Remember
to rejoice always, to pray without ceasing, to give God thanks for every
circumstance whether it is pleasant or repugnant; and that developing these
basic habits are part of His will for us in order to survive the trials of
life.
-
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
