Jesus Wants You To Know...

"A thankful mind-set keeps you in touch with Me. I hate it when My children grumble, casually despising My sovereignty. Thankfulness is a safeguard against this deadly sin. Furthermore, a grateful attitude becomes a grid through which you perceive life. Gratitude enables you to see the Light of My Presence shining on all your circumstances. Cultivate a thankful heart, for this glorifies Me and fills you with Joy."

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire.'" - Hebrews 12:28-29

- "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young

When Negative Thoughts Run Your Life

Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.

Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV)

I knew they were there, but I tried to ignore them and deny their existence.

They controlled how I felt in the morning and when I went to sleep. They often caused my emotions to feel out of control, making me feel out of control too.

They dictated how I reacted to situations or conversations. They often made me feel offended, angry, or hurt, whether or not it was truly justified. They never ceased to remind me of my shortcomings and flaws, making me feel inferior and without value, and they constantly tried to pull me down with discouragement or hopelessness, stealing my peace and joy.

What are “they,” you ask?

My thoughts.

Life had been tough for many months due to a painful situation in my marriage, and as a result, negative thoughts were running my life.

I didn’t want to feel sad or unhappy, but my thoughts stayed consumed with all the things that made me sad and unhappy. I didn’t want to feel discouraged or fearful, but my heart was heavy.

My negative thoughts were weighing down not only my emotions but my outlook on life. I felt as if I were sinking mentally, emotionally, and at times spiritually.

Todays key verse gives us wise advice on dealing with our thoughts: “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23).

This passage was written by King Solomon for the benefit of his own sons. As I read Proverbs 4, I notice that although Solomon was the king of Israel, he didn’t just advise his sons about royal matters like how to handle money, job responsibilities, or leading the kingdom. Instead he spoke here of the value of controlling their thoughts, which would determine how his sons felt and lived.

The quality of our thoughts will always determine the quality of our lives.

Whatever our minds focus on will shape what plays out in our lives and who we become. Our thoughts and feelings have more power than we may realize, gradually steering us - and possibly our faith - in a direction we may not want to go. King Solomon knew it’s often our thoughts, not just our circumstances, that cause us to sink, and his scriptures counsel us to be careful about what we think and feel.

When I realized my thoughts were running my life, I admitted to Jesus how I had allowed emotionally fueled thoughts to sink my joy, hope, and faith. I asked Him to remind me of His Truth that says I can be positive even if my circumstances aren’t.

As He helped me intentionally change my thoughts, my life changed as well. And so can yours.

Dear Lord, at times I feel as if I’m sinking in my attitude, my thought patterns, and even my faith. Forgive me for letting negativity have power over how I feel, think, and live. Fill me with hope today. Give me wisdom to control my attitude, and help me learn to transform my thoughts, heart, and life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

- Tracie Miles

Provided by "Proverbs 31 Ministries"

When God Blesses Others

Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him.

1 Samuel 18:15

Jealousy is a destructive attitude that poisons the way you view life. It is so harmful that God condemned coveting in two of the Ten Commandments. King Saul was a jealous and insecure man. He had been elevated to the highest position in Israel. He had been blessed in numerous ways. But Saul saw that David was gaining the attention and praise of the Israelites. The Israelites recognized Saul's accomplishments, but they also praised David, whom God was using to accomplish even more (1 Samuel 18:7). Rather than rejoicing that God had empowered another to defeat their enemies, Saul became murderously jealous and sought to destroy David.

Jealousy is an abomination in the life of a Christian. God has made us His children. None of us deserves to be God's child, so there is no need to compare our blessings with those of other children of God. Jealousy is self-centeredness at its worst. Jealousy robs us of joy and chokes out contentment. Jealousy hardens the heart and stifles gratitude. Jealousy assumes that God's resources are too limited for Him to bless another and still bless us.

Saul grew so preoccupied with his jealousy toward David that he neglected important things, bringing suffering and pain upon his people. Because of his jealousy, Saul's family was destroyed.

Watch over your heart! If you find yourself unable to rejoice in the success of others, beware! Do not let jealousy taint your heart. Repent before it robs you of any more of the joy and contentment God desires for you. When you are tempted to compare your success in life to that of another, ask God to remind you of all the ways He has blessed you undeservedly.

- Excerpt from “Experiencing God Day-By-Day” by Henry and Richard Blackaby

Giving Up Anxiety

Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on.
Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns;

yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

Matthew 6:25-26

There’s nothing about a circumstance that automatically creates anxiety. Anxiety occurs because of the way we respond to a problem or troubling situation. Your ability to choose is part of God’s gift of free will to every human being. You can choose how you feel. You can choose what you think about, and you can choose how you will respond to a circumstance. It certainly isn’t God’s purpose for you to feel anxious - He doesn’t allow situations in your life so you’ll have anxiety. The Father may allow a situation in your life to develop stronger faith, grow and mature, or change a bad habit or negative attitude. But God doesn’t set you up for anxiety. He’s always at work to bring you to a place where you’ll trust Him more, obey Him more fully, and receive more of His blessings.

- Dr. Charles F. Stanley

(Excerpt from reading plan “Finding Peace" [Day 7]) 

Let Your Light Shine

Scripture:
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world... - Philippians 2:14-15

 

Reflect:

According to Paul, what is one way that Christians can witness to the world?

I recently asked my kids to complete a simple chore together. I thought they’d be happy to help me out and would work together to complete the task. Instead, they complained about having to do it in the first place. Then, they fought with each other about who would do what.

I’d like to think that as believers in Jesus, we would all joyfully obey God with an attitude of cooperation and unity. But when I read the Bible, I discover that grumbling and disputes are a frequent occurrence, even among God’s people! In Exodus, Moses led the people out of Egypt and God miraculously parted the Red Sea for them to cross over. But the people soon grumbled because they didn’t have any water. Later, God provided manna from heaven for them to eat but the people grumbled because they wanted meat. In Numbers, God promised to give the Israelites the land of Canaan but it was occupied by giants that needed to be driven out. So the people grumbled that they would have been better off dying in the wilderness. It’s easy to read this and think, “God’s people are acting just like everyone else!”

In today’s verse, Paul says that we should refrain from grumbling and disputing with each other. Why? Because when we joyfully obey God and serve Him with a godly attitude, we show the watching world around us that we are different. The world is “crooked and twisted” but we have been made “blameless and innocent” in Jesus Christ. We should stand out like lights shining in the dark.

I have no doubt that my kids will improve in these areas as they grow and mature. The same is true for Christians. Joyful obedience and unity are markers of spiritual maturity. They are evidence of spiritual growth. God is working in us through the Holy Spirit that enables us to grow and change.

I encourage you to ask God to help you shine a light into the darkness around you. Ask Him to improve your attitude so that you will behave in a way that is in stark contrast to the rest of the world. The world is watching and they will wonder what makes you so different. As believers in Jesus Christ, our behavior is oftentimes our greatest witness to others about our faith.

Pray:
God, I confess that sometimes I am prone to arguing and complaining. But You have called me to joyful obedience and unity with my brothers and sisters in Christ. Work in my heart God so that I can be an effective witness for You. Help me to shine Your light in a dark world. Amen.

- Nat Crawford (Provided by "Back To The Bible")

What Do I Do When My Attitude Stinks?

Let my prayer be set before You as incense,

The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Psalm 141:2 (NKJV)

Yesterday morning, I needed a slight attitude adjustment. Thinking some fresh air, sunshine and exercise would help me out, I went on a brisk walk.

As I made my way down the street, so did a neighborhood garbage truck. It was rather uncanny; my pace and the truck’s duties seemed to line up perfectly. The large truck would stop to collect garbage while I moved ahead, but then it would invariably catch up with me, and we’d be side by side again. I turned right, and to my disgruntlement, so did the garbage truck. I couldn’t seem to escape its route or its awful smell.

While breathing in the not-so-fresh air, my mind made a connection: What if our thoughts and emotions had smells attached to them? What if the age-old phrase “your attitude stinks” was actually true in the heavenly realm? What odor would worry put off? Or bitterness? Or unforgiveness?

Second Timothy 2:16-17 refers to empty chatter spreading like gangrene — now that’s stinky for sure!

How do we rid ourselves of the “stink”? Soon after my walk, the Lord directed me to these verses: “O LORD, I call upon You; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to You! May my prayer be counted as incense before You; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering” (Psalm 141:1-2, NASB1995).

Can it be that our prayers “smell” good to God?

I looked further into incense offerings and found Exodus 30:7-8: “And Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on [the altar]. Every morning when he dresses the lamps he shall burn it, and when Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he shall burn it, a regular incense offering before the LORD throughout your generations” (ESV).

My Bible’s commentary explains that incense represented the prayers and praises of God’s people. Also, incense helped extinguish the smell of dead animals that had been sacrificed in the temple.

Maybe when we lay down our worry, pride, bitterness or you-name-it stinky sin — lifting up prayers instead — then these new words become the fragrance that rises to heaven.

Today, let’s rid ourselves of garbage truck odors and replace them with a lovely aroma of prayer. For me, I will lay down …

• Worrying about my children. Instead, I'll pray for each one of them by name.
• Resentment toward my co-worker. Instead, I'll ask God to bless him.
• Negativity. Instead, I'll lift up praises to the One who gives me breath.

It’s humbling to think that our words can be “counted as incense” (Psalm 141:2) before the Lord. Let’s trust that He not only enjoys the sound of our voices but delights in the sweet fragrance of our uplifted prayers.

Dear Lord, remind me to give all my anxious thoughts and errant emotions to You through prayer. As I choose to pour out my heart before You in faith, help me also to remember that You delight in hearing my voice. Thank You for listening, my Father and my Friend. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

- Chris Baxter
Provided by "Proverbs 31 Ministries"

Application of God's Word: Psalm 1:3

Verse: Psalm 1:3

He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

Application:

When Scripture says, "In all they do, they prosper," it does not mean immunity to failure or difficulties. Nor is it a guarantee of health, wealth, and happiness. What the Bible means by prosperity is this: When we apply God's wisdom, the fruit (results or by-products) we bear will be good and receive God's approval. Just as a tree soaks up water and bears luscious fruit, we also are to soak up God's Word, producing actions and attitudes that honor God. To achieve anything worthwhile, we must have God's Word in our hearts.

For all who take their delight in living by God's Word, there is prosperity. Under the image of a fruitful tree, the psalmist declared that whatever the righteous do will prosper. Two qualifications need to be noted. First, the fruit, that is, the prosperity, is produced in its season and not necessarily immediately after planting. Second, what the godly person does will be controlled by the Law of God (1:2). So if a person meditates on God's Word, his actions will be godly, and his God-controlled activities will prosper, that is, come to their divinely directed fulfillment.