Greetings,
It is a new year, and yes, I am rejoicing. It takes me back to one of my life verses in 1 Thess. 5: 16~18. "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
I do realize there are a LOT of reasons to not WANT to rejoice, or to give thanks. But did you note, it doesn't say "IF YOU FEEL LIKE IT"? It simply says DO IT!!
Don't misunderstand me, we all have problems, some concerning the virus, or a whole lot of other things. In my devotions lately I've been so thankful for what several different writers have brought out. Basically most of them are saying, "Take your eyes off of all the BAD stuff. There is plenty of that. Find the GOOD things and keep those at the front of what you do, what you say, and what you think." The whole world has made a 360° turn. What does the future hold for you? Where are you going? Those were some of the questions I've heard lately. Well, I do have my answers!! Are you interested?
Let's start with the obvious and simple things. I am sitting here typing, and I can communicate with family and friends. Maybe at this point I can't share a hug, but I CAN share my love for them. I can let them know what they mean to me. A positive word of encouragement or a simply, "Hi, thinking of you. Praying for you.", can lift someone up.
Let's move on from there. Maybe you can't get out to do something you've wanted to do. Okay, let's replace that with something you NEED to do. Set your focus on something you have put off for various reasons. Get that paperwork done, do your taxes (one I HAVE to work on), clean out a closet, straighten out some place in the house you've been avoiding. It can have some positive effects on you and your attitude. Believe me, I have found that out. I cleaned out 4 totes sitting on the shelf and got rid of things I didn't need or haven't used in YEARS!! The positive part? I found someone who NEEDED those things and were so happy to get them! TWO things accomplished, right? One for me, one for someone else.
These things could go on and on. But I think if we simply take this "hard" time and turn it into something "great", it could do wonders for you and for others. Reach out to an old friend, reconnect with a relative, yes, via email, a letter or a phone call. Bring some joy into someone else's life and find out how it will lift YOU up!
Why am I so positive about this? I did it! And yes, I had to make myself do it, but it really has done wonders. And you know what else? I have gotten back more and more, into reading the Bible. Not just listening to someone else telling me things, but getting into God's word and listening to HIM, personally!!! WOW...that has been the MOST AWESOME thing!! I'm reading things I have read before, but they are actually speaking to me in ways they haven't before. I'm LOVING IT!!
Back to "What does the future hold for ME?" For starters I'm drawing closer and closer to our Creator and Lord!! I may not be heading where I had wanted to go, but I'm heading where the Lord is leading me! Oh I know there are still mega problems in the world, but my focus is on the Lord now and what He'd want me to do. Yup, a different direction, but not a bad one. Maybe not where I thought I'd be, but I am in a better relationship with the Lord and that has my heart rejoicing more and more.
Why not start there: Your relationship with the Lord. Then move on to your relationship with the family. And then on to others... how and where can you help, even if it's just with a word or a note! Lift up someone else and you'll find yourself lifted up as well!!
Thanks for letting me share my thoughts. I guess I just wanted someone else to have this great feeling in a time where heartache and misery seem foremost in our lives. We DO serve an awesome God, and we also have contact with some awesome people in our lives. REJOICE!!! LIFT UP THE LORD!!! AND LIFT UP SOMEONE ELSE IN THE PROCESS!!! Blessings....and SMILE, God loves you!!!
