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.
Bible Love Notes
We tin direct to quit complaining together with starting fourth dimension rejoicing...
I tin sometimes hold upwards a whiner. I tin encounter the drinking glass half-full or focus on the negatives inwards an otherwise positive situation. But I'm getting better. My married adult man thinks then anyway. Whining is similar staying inwards a night room with all the curtains pulled instead of letting the Sun smooth into our circumstances. Even when our circumstances are really dark, there's e'er stars inwards the night heaven if nosotros await for them. And when nosotros await for Light, nosotros reverberate it together with perish shiners instead of whiners. "For you lot were 1 time darkness, only forthwith you lot are lite inwards the Lord. Live every bit children of lite ... Do everything without grumbling or argument so that you lot may perish blameless together with pure, children of God without error inwards a warped together with crooked generation. Then you lot volition smooth alongside them similar stars inwards the sky" (Ephesians 5:8; Philippians 2:14-15). Wanna hold upwards a shiner? I do.
In hardship, nosotros tin modify our cite ... or nosotros tin modify our perspective. Let me explain:
Naomi's solid unit of measurement moved to Moab, a heathen land, because of famine inward Israel. Afterward her hubby in addition to 2 married sons died. Because God was approbation State of Israel amongst skillful crops, the widow Naomi returned to her homeland where friends in addition to relatives welcomed her. Her daughter-in-law Ruth vowed to never piece of employment out Naomi in addition to to worship the True in addition to Living God instead of the heathen gods of Moab. Naomi's loss was great, only she was dorsum amidst God's people where nutrient was plentiful, she had a devoted, God-fearing daughter-in-law, in addition to she had God's comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). However, Naomi told everyone to telephone band her "Mara" (bitter) because "the Almighty has made my life rattling bitter. I went away full, only the Lord has brought me dorsum empty." (Ruth 1:21) ... empty ...
In the midst of trials, nosotros oft ignore God's loving manus of help in addition to provision. But when this happens, nosotros demand to modify our perspective, non our name. ---------------------- I encourage yous to create the Bite Size Bible Study on this devotion. It asks three questions nosotros all should answer when nosotros are going through hardship. If you're married, I too encourage yous to read this devotion close Naomi in addition to Ruth:Was Naomi a Good Mom-in-Law?
Why non add together around 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 upward for a costless subscription to Bible Love Notes in addition to instruct a costless e-booklet. Find out to a greater extent than HERE.
Optimistic people alive fuller, richer lives... Do you lot intend the drinking glass is one-half empty or one-half full? I acknowledge I’m oft pessimistic, non a godly quality. And according to about studies, it’s likewise non a salubrious quality. "Since 1986, University of Kentucky scientist David Snowdon has been studying 678 School Sisters [nuns]--painstakingly researching their personal in addition to medical histories, testing them for cognitive constituent in addition to fifty-fifty dissecting their brains later death.”* One finding of Snowdon’s “Nun Study” is this: nuns who limited positive emotions are less probable to railroad train Alzheimer’s than those who limited negative emotions.
Pessimism isn’t salubrious for our minds. Joy is!
In Philippians 4, Paul likewise makes this point: - “Rejoice inwards the Lord always. I volition tell it again: Rejoice!” (4:4)
- “Do non endure anxious well-nigh anything, simply inwards every situation…with thanksgiving introduce your requests to God.” (4:6)
- “whatever is true…noble…right…pure…lovely…admirable …think well-nigh such things” (4:8)
Life involves difficulties in addition to suffering (John 16:33). Optimism comes from inner joy. And that inner joy is proficient for our minds! -----------------------
Why non add together about to a greater extent than of God's Word to your schedule yesteryear having a 1-minute devotion delivered to your electronic mail each weekday. Sign upward for a gratis subscription to Bible Love Notes in addition to larn a gratis e-booklet. Find out to a greater extent than HERE.
Optimism...
Some people appear to live on born amongst it in addition to others without it.
But the Bible offers iv tips for becoming to a greater extent than optimistic no affair our temperament:
1. Be thankful! “Be thankful inwards all circumstances.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18, NLT
Thanking God in addition to others for what nosotros get got takes our focus off what nosotros don’t have. (See "Practicing Gratefulness")
2. Put others first. “Do non exactly hold off out for your ain personal interests, but equally good for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4, NASB
Thinking virtually the needs of others gives us a role beyond our difficulties. (See "Beatin' the Blues")
3. Focus on the Positive. “Fix your thoughts on what it truthful in addition to honorable in addition to right.” Philippians 4:8, NLT
Dwelling on the good—even something equally unproblematic equally overnice weather—cheers us. (See "A Half Full Faith") 4. Remember Jesus! “In this globe you lot volition get got trouble. But accept heart! I get got overcome the world.” Jesus inwards John 16:33, NIV
Remind yourself that whatsoever happens, you lot get got Christ! (See "Inhale His Presence")
If nosotros follow these principles, we'll get got a hope-filled, optimistic mental attitude toward life. ---------------- Why non add together about to a greater extent than of God's Word to your schedule yesteryear having a 1-minute devotion similar this i delivered to your electronic mail each weekday. Sign upwards for a costless subscription to Bible Love Notes in addition to larn a costless e-booklet. Find out to a greater extent than HERE.
