Twenty years ago, I made this post. It seems to fit right into this year of troubles, gangs taking over apartments, fires, hurricanes, election rage, and riots, and forms an antidote to the poison.
Is your world getting you down? Are you unhappy with your current status-quo? Norman Vincent Peale once said, “Change your thoughts and you change your world.” Zig Ziglar referred to bad thoughts as “Stinkin thinkin” and warned that no good comes from it. The Apostle Paul made it clear that your success and happiness start with YOU! Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
How are your spiritual thoughts going? Are you cheerful and optimistic? Most people including you will feel better being around cheerful optimistic individuals. So, start changing your world there. Ultimately your success cannot be measured by how much money you gain, or the fancy title you end up with in your career, or a new car, but by how happy and joyful you are and the degree of peace you have in your life.
No one can truly be happy apart from God. The closer the relationship, the happier you will be. When you are where you need to be in your relationship with God you will experience JOY in your daily life, and you shall know peace even in times of trouble.
Backslide a little and move away from the Lord and you will notice the JOY change to one disappointment after another before your eyes. Regardless of the pits that we slip into on occasion as we march through life, we have much to be happy about.
Thanks to a cross and a Savior, we will rest one day and experience perpetual joy for eternity. Now thinking such thoughts is the better way to start your day. Whatever you do – don’t worry! It accomplishes nothing aside from adversely affecting the health of your body and mind. Matthew 6:34 states: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Focus on the Lord and know He is sitting on the throne and all things will work out for the good for those who love the Lord.
Psalms 35:9
And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord;
It shall rejoice in His salvation.