How do you keep first things first? In your devotions, do your thoughts and the day’s list of to-do’s intrude? How do you keep your mind from wandering? In today’s post, I share how I keep first things first when that to-do list tries to distract me from my time in God’s presence.
When someone is depressed, they have a choice to make: to either let depression define them or to desire joy bad enough to seek after it with obedience and sacrifice. Jesus offered us the same joy he had; the fullest possible joy. This journey from depression into joy can be very hard, but if we want joy bad enough, we will seek after it. Read more for how to shift your mindset to lead a joy-filled life.
When someone hurts you, you don’t always feel like forgiving them. Yet so much of what we struggle with comes from carrying around bitterness, resentment and unforgiveness in our hearts. Unforgiveness is like drinking a poison and expecting it to kill the other person. It doesn’t quite work that way! How do you forgive when you don’t feel like it?
Where are you today? Are you battle weary? Or are you regaining your strength after having fought the good fight? Are you searching for meaning in your suffering? I want to encourage you to hang in there. Stick it out. Don’t give up. I’ve been in the trenches, fighting a battle I didn’t see coming and I didn’t want to entertain. To make matters worse, I’ve seen this enemy before. A different face maybe, but similar tactics and all-too-familiar lies. What I’ve learned is there is sometimes a lesson in the pain. Our battles are not always for us.
Have you ever felt like Jesus was calling you out to a place that required you to trust in Him wholeheartedly? A place where you had to readjust your focus so you could keep your eyes on Him? God often calls us to walk into the unknown.
