Guiding Light!5 ways to stop being bummed!The most miserable people in the world are those who have a crook in their neck from constantly looking over their shoulders at some past problem. This is also known as self pity. Time continues on, but some people, even christians tightly cling to the old problems and harbor past grudges. Let them go! Life is not lived in the past. Keep your eyes on Jesus! Be like Paul, forget what is behind and press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called you.Pray for God to change you, not others An absolute scenario for misery includes a lot of prayer for God to change other people. You know the people I am talking about, don't you? Your boss who drives you up the wall; the coworker who stabs you in the back; the church member who irritates you to pieces. You pray for God to change their lives to make them more lovable, and there remains planted firmly in the way of your happiness and taking the joy right out of you. Want to escape misery? Stop trying to change others, pray instead for God to change you. Obnoxious people will always be there. God will see to it that they are there for you. Because He knows you need them to grow to become more like Jesus. Ask God to change you and see what happens. Accept responsibility for your own choices Turn on the radio or the television or look in the newspaper or sit in a group of people and you will hear people blaming someone else or something else for the way they have become. No one in this country wants to accept responsibility for their actions. Accept responsibility for your own actions, and accept God's power to overcome even hereditary tendencies toward wrong doing. Yes, God's grace is sufficient. Know God for yourself Many christians are miserable because they are always dependent on someone else for their growth in the Lord. Take hold of your own growth in the Lord. Take command of your walk with God. Go to the source, "Jesus Christ" and get the power of the Holy Spirit from Him as you spend time in the word, in prayer, and in service to others. Don't be caught without knowing Christ for yourselves. Take risks Life is short. Don't limit yourself. Ask God for big things and watch for the opportunities to move beyond your comfort zone. You are a child of God, and all things are yours. Refuse to let satan cheat you out of your Godly inheritance because of fear. Fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of getting hurt and on and on the list goes. "You did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship." Don't wait for your ship to come in, swim out to it. Be everything God created you to be. Rejoice in the Lord always, and again, I say rejoice. Heavenly Father, it is our prayer today that we would stop hashing over the past and leave it there, just as you have the day we were forgiven through the blood of Christ. Strengthen us Father to see the good in everyone we meet, help us to encourage each other in love, and most of all Heavenly Father help us to keep our eyes on you and strive for the goal of being more like Jesus. We thank you Father for the power you have given us over satan, all we have to do is rebuke him and he has no power over us. We stand firm in our belief today Father that you will provide everything for us, we rejoice in Your word. We thank you Father for all you have done in our life's and we look forward to your continuing work you have planned for us.........these things we pray in Jesus Christ name.............amen In Christ's Service, Kenny Millhouse kenny@guidinglightministry.com http://guidinglightministry.com This is a weekly service brought to you by Guiding Light Ministries, if you enjoy receiving these messages, please send us an email sharing your thoughts and words of encouragement. Feel free to pass these messages on to your friends and neighbors. If you need personal help in learning how to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord, send us an email and we will contact you immediately. If you have received this devotion from a friend and would like to be added to our mailing list, reply with "SUBSCRIBE" in the subject line and we will gladly add you to our list. If at anytime you wish to be removed from our mailing list, reply with "REMOVE" in the subject line and we will immediately remove you. |