30 Days of Encouragement - Day 18
Until Jesus Comes
What is has always been. Maybe by another name, but certainly, it's the same thing. There has always been war, always been hatred, always been sickness and civil unrest. And there has always been hope. Hope for a brighter future.
Just When Were the Good Old Days?
The days of our parents, grandparents, and great- grandparents held their own evil:
- World Wars I and II, Viet Nam, The Gulf War.
- Tuberculosis, deadly flu strains, Swine Flu, Bird Flu, AIDS, Cancer.
- Racism, crime, injustice, and the most difficult to accept the lack of trust in the political system.
Memories From Where?
It is our memories of the past that make the truth of the past seem better than the present. But, our brain plays a trick on us. The brain stores the memory and the "good-feeling" we experienced when making that memory together. When we remember something pleasant, the good feeling we got at that time is felt.
The memory and the feeling go hand in hand. Even bad memories and their feelings are stored together. Without our forgiving the situation or circumstance, we will always feel the pain of a hurtful event. So, we are making our future "good old days" or our future "bad old days" right now
Wired For Joy
God designed us in His image and in His likeness. God was not confused about our design. He didn't make a mistake. He made us unique. But, He gave us instructions that would lead us back to Him or which would lead us into eternal separation from Him.
"In Him is life; and the life is the light of men". [John 1:4]
God is the light that lights all men. God loves us and wants us free from the bondage of sin and evil forces. To do so, we must choose His way.
We are wired by God to live in joy. The Bible clearly and repeatedly admonishes us to put away sadness and embrace joy. When we respond to situations in the way He subscribes, we act in His way. We are who He created us to be.
This Makes No Sense
Waking up worried about today will not improve today, but it will ruin today. Anxiety about the future will not change the future, But is will steal your motivation.
It is said, "Anxiety is a downpayment on something that may never happen." Just as sure as we do not know what tomorrow will bring, we can be sure that worrying about it will not affect it.
The Definition of Insanity
Doing the same thing the same way and getting the results you want is wonderful if you like the results. Doing the same thing the same way and getting unwanted results, and continuing to repeat the process, is a form of insanity. And no one wants to hear you complain, or cry, or whine about it.
Self-Examination Time
Are we stuck in a place of insanity? Are we happy with the fear that grips our insides, the fear that paralyzes us and prevents us from attempting to live the dream in our hearts?
Is the habit of insanity the new norm? Or is laziness or the lack of knowledge the culprit?
Contrary to Victorious Living
Worrying, negative speech, negative thinking, and negative believing are all contrary to victorious living.
NOTE:
Victorious living is not defined by material gain or social acceptance. Victorious living is defined as deep peace in the soul. Where there is peace, there is completeness.
There is no way around the issue. If we want to live a victorious life, we MUST work at it, and we must work at it God's way.
Does It Do Any Good?
We can try every self-help method, every false way. We will have temporary relief because all of these ways have a grain or two of truth in them.
Many of the methods are based on the Word of God. However, they choose to exclude the need for God and expect their methods to work.
That is like putting a band-aid on an artery bleed. Only a small space will be covered while the rest bleeds out all around the band-aid.
Break the Habit With Help
The habit of worry, the habit of anxiety, the habit of fearing the future, all start with one thought. One thought that was not stopped or replaced. One thought that embeds itself in our consciousness and grows over time.
Even though it is easier to form a habit than it is to break a habit, no habit is unbreakable, but no habit can be broken without diligent effort.
Learning to recognize habits, learning to combat them without ignoring the truth, and developing the consistency to be diligent, can only be accomplished with the help of God.
It Was There All The Time
The Word of God is a treasure trove of instructions on daily living. The promises of God have prerequisites attached to them. It is our job to fulfill these prerequisites.
If you have already received the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you have received the first promise of God and are eligible to walk in His other promises.
God's Promises Require Action From Our Spirit, Our Soul, and Our Body.
Peace requires that our spirit receive it, our soul forgives others, and our bodies take action to think as the Word of God tells us. [Philippians 4:8 ]
The result of this obedience is having the peace of God, which passes all understanding keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. With the help of the Holy Ghost, we can do what is required with some consistency. Without His help...
Matthew 6:34
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
There truly is nothing new under the Sun. And there is truly nothing new to the Son of God.
Be Blessed [Matthew 6:34, 1 Peter 5:7]
