There is a poster in my office that reads:
Shake off your doubts and then go for it.
Check out your options and act.
Find an approach to the future,
And turn today’s dreams into fact.
Take a first step to tomorrow.
Start on the course of your choice.
Look at what life has to offer,
Listen to your inner voice.
Don’t live a life of regretting,
Stifled by negative force.
Think of what you can accomplish,
Steer an affirmative course.
Build on activities positive,
Work with abundance of heart.
By making the best of the present,
Change is the process you start.
Even though problems may surface,
Problems don’t have to prevail.
As long as you are one who is trying
And never just waiting to fail.
Bruce B. Wilmer
We have divided our lives into one-year segments. They begin at a certain time and end at another. The problem is that we tend to categorize our successes and defeats within these year slots and then weigh them up at the beginning of each new year usually focusing on what we did not accomplish.
Each year I see the same people go up for prayer yet again, determined to make that year’s new resolutions work. What they don’t realize is that their new set of rules or the same set of rules as previous year, just done differently, will ultimately give them the same results. What they need is a change of heart.
I believe we need to learn to live each day as a gift in its own right. The Bible says that the Lord’s mercies and loving kindnesses are new EVERY morning. Every morning He is willing to give me better than I deserve and love me regardless. This thought alone should make me a glad person. Each day has a new silver lining. One quote I read says: We miss the silver linings of each day because we are too busy looking for the gold ones.
Proverbs 15:15 says: ALL THE DAYS OF THE DESPONDING AND
AFFLICTED ARE MADE EVIL (BY ANXIOUS THOUGHTS AND FOREBODINGS), BUT HE WHO HAS A GLAD HEART HAS A CONTINUAL FEAST (REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTANCES).
When we look back at the mistakes of yesteryear, our days become evil because we start being despondent by anxious thoughts and forebodings. We need to learn to have a glad heart.
The poem I shared at the beginning has a couple of good points I’d like to highlight:
These might help you to start being glad regardless of your circumstances.
· SHAKE OFF YOUR DOUBTS
The Oxford dictionary defines doubt as an uncertainty about something, or being undecided. James says that a double-minded person cannot receive anything from the Lord. Make up your mind what it is that you want to do and then go for it with God’s help. But remember, YOU have to make the decision to move on.
· LISTEN TO YOUR INNER VOICE
You cannot decide what you want without listening to your heart. Learn to define what your greatest heart’s desire is. Not what your spouse or children or boss want. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you. He is your friend.
· DON’T LIVE A LIFE OF REGRET
Regrets will always bring a negative force into play. They cause you to dwell on the past and forget that there is a future that you can change, and work towards. Put regrets behind you. You cannot change history but you can mould the future.
· MAKE THE BEST OF THE PRESENT
Consider what you have at the moment. What blessings and abilities you have (no matter how small they seem) that can be of benefit to you and others and build on that.
· PROBLEMS DON’T HAVE TO PREVAIL
Problems are a part of life. Without them we don’t grow, but they don’t have to prevail. Use them to help you keep on trying. Jesus said we would have trouble in this world, but that He had overcome. There is always help.
Don’t worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will have enough trouble of its own. (My paraphrase) - Matthew 6:34
I don’t believe Jesus was telling us to bury our heads in the sand like an ostrich, but was saying that dwelling on worry and being anxious will mess up our hearts and minds.
If we spend our time thinking on His kingdom and righteousness and what He achieved, then we will be able to see the opportunities of each day, knowing that He is with us and for us no matter what.
WE SHOULD TRUST THAT EACH NEW DAY WILL BE FILLED WITH JOY AND PEACE BECAUSE OF THE FINISHED WORK OF JESUS CHRIST. LIVE EACH MOMENT FULLY AWARE OF YOUR BLESSINGS.
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