Accentuate The Positive

A Biblical cure from discouragement...

I recollect an one-time Bing Crosby vocal my mom used to sing called "Accentuate the Positive." 

Its lyrics encouraged a positive perspective on life, in addition to they remind me of an fifty-fifty amend lyric from Philippians:

Rejoice inwards the Lord always ... inwards every situation, past times prayer in addition to petition, with thanksgiving, acquaint your requests to God...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is splendid or praiseworthy—think close such things ... And the God of peace volition live on amongst you..." Philippians 4:4-9 

Christ promises a perfect eternity filled amongst joy beyond our imagination.

This allows us to "accentuate" the positive no affair how difficult our circumstances.

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Heart Medicine

A grin is an cheap agency to alter your looks. 

Charles Gordy  

Smiles in addition to laughter brand us to a greater extent than attractive. 

And Proverbs 17:22 tells us that joy is skilful for trunk in addition to soul: “A joyful view is skilful medicine.”

Science confirms this Bible passage: laughter improves blood flow, blood saccharide levels, immune organization response, in addition to slumber patterns.

“We alter physiologically when nosotros laugh. We stretch muscles throughout our confront in addition to body, our pulse in addition to blood pull per unit of measurement area become up, in addition to nosotros breathe faster, sending to a greater extent than oxygen to our tissues...it tin survive similar a mild workout -- in addition to may offering some of the same advantages..." (WebMD)

Often Christians are stereotyped equally sour-faced in addition to stern. Let's create our best to interruption that stereotype! We'll experience better, hold off to a greater extent than beautiful in addition to our smiles in addition to laughter tin survive skilful medicine for those some us too. 
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Aha Moments

Often spell reading Scripture, I larn an "aha moment."

Recently, spell worrying (i.e. failing to trust God), I read John 16.

Jesus is talking to the disciples well-nigh the sorrow they'll experience when He dies, simply He encourages them yesteryear telling them they'll ane time to a greater extent than rejoice....and here's where my aha minute came: 

He says "no ane volition own got away your joy."

No ane tin own got away the joy of knowing the Risen Jesus because it's a joy that isn't subject on people or circumstances. 

It's a joy subject on Jesus alone. 

If nosotros lose it, as well as thence we've given it away...it hasn't been taken from us.

Nothing well-nigh Jesus tin brand us lamentable or lonely or forgotten or misunderstood or unfairly judged or hopeless. 

No ane tin own got away our joy inward Jesus.

No one.

Jesus knows us as well as our circumstances as well as He knows just what nosotros take away to hear. 

“I own got told you lot these things, thence that inward me you lot may own got peace. In this the world you lot volition own got trouble. But own got ♥! I own got overcome the world.” Jesus (John 16:33)

Aha!
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3 Ways To Relish Life & Facebook

Even if you lot don't utilization Facebook, I mean value you'll exercise goodness from this devotion.

Studies present that beingness on Facebook makes many people discouraged, disappointed together with fifty-fifty depressed. 

Why? Because everyone's life seems together with thus much ameliorate than theirs and/or no 1 pays attending to the things they post.

Facebook mimics life. Most people cover their failures together with everyone wants to a greater extent than attending than they get.

Three things that tin give the axe attention us inward life or on Facebook:

1. Honestly acknowledge that our lives aren't perfect. We convey failures together with sorrows merely similar everyone, but nosotros discovery comfort, correction together with guidance inward Christ (2 Corinthians 1:3-7; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

2. Realize that God's the exclusively perfect friend. Others volition disappoint us (John 15:15).

3. Find our joy together with fulfillment past times focusing on God together with others, non on ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40).

Facebook tin give the axe hold out a source of joy together with ministry building for Christians if nosotros pray for others, post inspiring images, Scriptures together with quotes to encourage others, together with introduce our lives honestly.
source: Facebook Makes You Feel Bad
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I encourage you lot to utilization Bible Love Note's Facebook page every bit a means to part Christ on Facebook. You tin give the axe part pictures together with links past times hitting the "share" button, together with it's ever a approving to convey you lot similar or comment on our posts!
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Worth Celebrating

If you've e'er watched a game demo or seen word coverage virtually a lottery, you've seen people clap, shout, in addition to yell amongst joy over winning money, cars, homes or vacations.

There's zippo incorrect amongst getting excited virtually to a greater extent than or less of these things, simply let's set them inwards perspective: They're temporary things of this earth, non eternal. 

But those of us who know Jesus stimulate got something permanent, eternal, in addition to heavenly to inspire clapping, shouting, in addition to crying amongst joy.

"Clap your hands, all y'all nations; yell to God amongst cries of joy. For the LORD Most High is awesome, the cracking King over all the earth. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise." Psalm 47, excerpts 

Why non accept a few moments today in addition to read aloud 1 of the Psalms that focuses on praising God? Or improve yet, brand upwards a Psalm of our own. He's worth celebrating!
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Why non add together to a greater extent than or less to a greater extent than of God's Word to your schedule past times having a 1-minute devotion similar this 1 delivered to your electronic mail each weekday. Sign upwards for a gratis subscription to Bible Love Notes in addition to become a gratis e-booklet. Find out to a greater extent than HERE.

Enjoying Obedience - Psalm 119:14

"God has called us to alive holy lives" (1 Thessalonians 4:7), in addition to 1 agency nosotros create that is to honor joy inward obedience:
"I rejoice inward next your statutes equally 1 rejoices inward bully riches." Psalm 119:14

Does obedience brand y'all experience elated in addition to joy-filled?

What close the "hard" commands similar forgiving offenses, returning expert for evil, denying ourselves, or standing upward for God's values inward a globe that mocks them?

It's interesting how frequently the Bible links joy amongst these hard acts of obedience:
✤ Be glad when insulted for Christ (Matthew 5:11-12)
✤ Consider trials "pure joy" (James 1:2)
✤ Rejoice e'er - written past times Paul inward prison theatre (Philippians 3:1)

It's impossible to rejoice inward these hard acts of obedience inward our ain strength. But inward Christ all things are possible (Matthew 19:26; Philippians 4:13).

And joy comes from looking beyond the difficulty to the reward:
"Rejoice in addition to hold out glad, because bully is your vantage inward heaven." Matthew 5:12
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This is business office of a 10 business office serial on ix Spiritual Disciplines establish in Psalm 119:9-16. Read the entire series HERE.

Why non add together only about to a greater extent than of God's Word to your schedule past times having a 1-minute devotion similar this 1 delivered to your electronic mail each weekday. Sign upward for a costless subscription to Bible Love Notes in addition to operate a costless e-booklet. Find out to a greater extent than HERE.

Make A Joyful Noise

As a novel believer, I memorized Psalm 100. (I learned it every bit a vocal - an first-class way to memorize.)

Verse one is translated inward the KJV in addition to ESV every bit "Make a joyful racket unto the Lord."

Sometimes people joke close the fact that non all of us are bang-up singers, only at to the lowest degree nosotros tin brand a joyful noise. 

There's truth inward that joke because God isn't every bit interested inward how nosotros sing out loud every bit how nosotros sing inside.

If nosotros are going to "bring proficient things out of proficient stored upwards within of us" (Matthew 12:35), nosotros involve to accept proficient inside. 

3 Ways nosotros tin "make a joyful noise":

1. Dwelling on God's Word, reciting in addition to singing Psalms, hymns in addition to spiritual songs (Colossians 3:16).
 
2. Thinking close our blessings in addition to the proficient things inward our lives (Philippians 4:8).
 
3. Refusing to scream upwards ungodly thoughts (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Let's non allow a 24-hour interval acquire past times without "making a joyful racket unto the Lord" within in addition to out loud.
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Why non add together roughly to a greater extent than of God's Word to your schedule past times having a 1-minute devotion similar this i delivered to your e-mail each weekday. Sign upwards for a complimentary subscription to Bible Love Notes in addition to acquire a complimentary e-booklet. Find out to a greater extent than HERE.

Crazy Joy!

Have you lot ever had such crazy joy you lot couldn’t perish along it in? H5N1 birth, marriage, novel home, novel auto or neat project opportunity…

In Philippians, Paul has such crazy joy he can’t perish along it inwards either. At 1 indicate he writes:

"Rejoice inwards the Lord always. I volition tell it again: Rejoice!" (4:4)

What was Paul’s joyful circumstance when he wrote this letter? 

A exceptional award? 

A exceptional fourth dimension amongst family? 

Warmth together with comfort? 

None of these. 

Paul was inwards prison theatre together with to a greater extent than or less of his ain 'Christian' brothers were making things worse for him (1:13-17).

Paul’s whole life was characterized yesteryear serious trials (2 Corinthians 11:23-33), but he was consistently joyful inwards Christ.

Philippians is a neat majority to read. 

Why non underline "joy,” "rejoice," together with "glad" side yesteryear side fourth dimension you lot read it. You'll attain novel insights most the pregnant of joy. 

Isn't it but similar God to convey such a joyful majority written from a prison theatre cell?

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Why non add together to a greater extent than or less to a greater extent than of God's Word to your schedule yesteryear having a 1-minute devotion similar this 1 delivered to your electronic mail each weekday. Sign upward for a complimentary subscription to Bible Love Notes together with become a complimentary e-booklet. Find out to a greater extent than HERE.

Bible Love Notes

I Can't Survive Happy Unless....

Someone deeply wounded my heart. I “knew” I couldn’t survive happy unless nosotros reconciled. I prayed, pleaded together with wept for reconciliation. But the other somebody wasn’t interested.

Months became years, together with in conclusion I realized the province of affairs mightiness never change… I needed to change. 

Max Lucado writes almost this: "Are yous hoping that a alter inward circumstances volition convey a alter inward your attitude? If so, yous are inward prison ... What yous select inward your Shepherd is greater than what yous don’t select inward life.”(1)

I’d been inward prison, letting my happiness residual on fixing something I couldn't fix. Finally, I realized that my Shepherd’s dear is greater than my pain. He’s all I ask for contentment together with joy.

It's a process, merely I'm learning to “Rejoice inward the Lord always" together with allow "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding"  to guard my see together with heed inward Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7


(1) Lucado Inspirational Reader, Copyright 2011, Thomas Nelson

These 8 Steps for Overcoming Bitterness were too helpful inward dealing amongst my disappointment inward this situation.

Why non add together roughly to a greater extent than of God's Word to your schedule yesteryear having a 1-minute devotion similar this i delivered to your e-mail each weekday. Sign upward for a costless subscription to Bible Love Notes together with acquire a costless e-booklet. Find out to a greater extent than HERE.

Rejoice! The Joy Of The Lord Is Your Strength!

The Jewish people returned to Jerusalem later lxx years of Western Farsi exile. When Ezra read the constabulary to them (Nehemiah 8:1-11), it was the start fourth dimension many had heard it. 

Realizing they savage brusk of God’s desires, they laid out to weep. And Nehemiah said: “Don’t hold upward dejected in addition to sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!” 

We frequently listen the phrase “the joy of the Lord is your strength!” 

But knowing the background brings fifty-fifty to a greater extent than joy. 

Can you lot imagine hearing God-breathed truth for the start time? 

I can. That’s what happened when I gave my life to Christ. 

I’d heard many of these Bible truths before, exactly they came to life when I followed Christ.
They brought tears of sorrow, knowing I savage brusk (Romans 3:23), in addition to tears of joy, knowing I was forgiven in addition to at in 1 lawsuit had God’s Spirit to alter in addition to restore my catch (Romans 10:10; Philippians 2:13). 

Do you lot remember? 

Take a 2nd today to give cheers God for the Joy you lot sense inwards Him. The joy of the Lord is your strength!

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Check out Bible Love Note's archive of 1-minute devotions on Joy in addition to Laughter in addition to bookmark it in addition to thus you lot tin flame read several whenever you lot ask a boost of joy inwards the Lord. And cheque out today's Bite Size Bible Study for a short, joyful written report on this devotion!

The Unique Foundation Of Christian Happiness

Happiness is enjoyed past times expert as well as bad people alike.

Happy people can:
Love coin as well as utilization people or utilization coin as well as honey people.
Ignore godly Biblical values or ignore ungodly cultural values.
Focus on power, position, as well as net turn a profit or focus on the purposes of the Lord.

Happiness comes for both expert as well as bad reasons, but Christian happiness is the nearly unique form of all.

In Matthew 5, Christ lists a discover of hard things which brand His followers happy.

Christians tin endure happy despite terrible earthly circumstances because our happiness is tied amongst ribbons of promise as well as slipped into the sure, potent hands of our Lord.

When persecution, trouble, as well as injustice larn into our lives, nosotros become to our Lord for these reminders:

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thank you lot inwards all circumstances; for this is God’s volition for you lot inwards Christ Jesus.” 
– 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

“Rejoice as well as endure glad, because dandy is your vantage inwards heaven...”  
– Matthew 5:12

“Rejoice inwards the Lord always. I volition country it again: Rejoice!”  – Philippians 4:4
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Happiness is knowing Jesus!

Why non add together approximately to a greater extent than of God's Word to your schedule past times having a 1-minute devotion delivered to your e-mail each weekday. Sign upwards for a costless subscription to Bible Love Notes as well as larn a costless e-booklet. Find out to a greater extent than HERE.

Do You Lot Bring A Happiness Diary?

Earlier this year, I bought a footling notebook amongst “Happiness Diary” written on the front.

I didn’t purchase it because I was bubbling over amongst happiness.

I bought it because I wasn’t.

There were approximately major things going incorrect inwards my life, things over which I had no control.

I was family on those things. 

Sometimes nosotros intend nosotros ask a “Sadness Diary,” “Complaint Diary,” “Mistreatment Diary,” or “Difficulty Diary.”

But all those diaries give-up the ghost “Self-pity Diaries.”

God didn’t say us to dwell on any is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, together with praiseworthy because everything inwards our lives would survive wonderful (Philippians 4:8).

He told us to dwell on those things because we’d own got problem inwards life (John 16:33).

But He too told us to “take courage” because inwards Him nosotros own got peace together with joy beyond our circumstances!

No affair what else is happening, nosotros ask to daily remind ourselves of God’s goodness.

We all ask a “Happiness Diary.”

Bible Love Notes