“How you think determines how you feel.” I don’t know where I first heard this, but excluding injuries and illnesses, I believe it.

Controlling how you think takes work and practice, but if you control how you think about things, you can control how you feel. For example, what if on one of those days when the bills were stacked up and you had no idea how you would cover them all, the Fedex person delivered you a package notifying you that you just inherited a fortune from an unknown relative. Do you think you would feel better? Nothing physically changed in this instance, you just looked at things differently and changed your thoughts.

In a similar way, Solomon wrote in Proverbs 15:15, “For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.” NLT

Dear Lord, Thank you for the incredible opportunities you have given us to appreciate your creation and those around us. Help us put our trust and confidence in you so that we may have a “happy heart” and enjoy all that we have. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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In modern times, we are much more likely to be subject to emotional burdens than physical burdens. Few people in their work are required to face overwhelming physical burdens. However, many of us can become subject to heavy emotional and psychological burdens. We may face an uncertain medical diagnosis, or a long and uncertain recovery from illness or injury, some have financial burdens with no idea how to overcome them, or emotional challenges dealing with friends or family members with behavior problems.

These types of burdens can weigh so heavily on people that they look for any relief, and without faith, may turn to alcohol, drugs, or running away in attempts to overcome the emotional or psychological pain.

We must remember, for ourselves and for others, Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Jesus is the solution in those times of trial when we think there is no relief.

Dear Lord, Thank you for the assurance of emotional comfort and shelter in our times of trouble. Help us remember to come to you rather than the supposed solutions in drugs, alcohol, and other temptations that only take us further away from you. Help us not only realize this for ourselves, but be there to share this with our loved ones and others who need your rest for their souls. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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If you have ever played the poker game, Texas Hold ’em, you’ve realized that the game is not so much about what cards you or your opponents have, it is more about being able to read the actions and body language of your opponents.

In a similar way, much of being a Christian is not about what is happening physically, It is about what is going on spiritually.

Ephesians 6:12 Paul writes, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”

I have heard this concept described, “the main battle is supernatural.” So the tools we need to defend ourselves and win this battle are spiritual.

Dear Lord, Sometimes it is so apparent when we are being attacked spiritually, but sometimes it is subtle. Help us have the strength and faith to overcome those spiritual forces which try to destroy our relationship with you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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We know the story of Abraham following God’s direction in Genesis 22:2, “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”

God had promised Abraham a son for many years and finally when he was one hundred years old, Abraham and Sarah had Isaac. Then in this verse, God tells Abraham to sacrifice the boy. We know how the story goes, Abraham obeyed God, and then God stopped him at the last minute. There are many messages we can get from this story about obedience and trust, but I think one additional message for us is that in our hearts and minds, we need to take that thing that is important to us and be prepared to put it on the altar.

If we really trust God we need to take our dreams and say “God this is what I really want, but I am giving it to you. What ever Your will is, I can accept it.” I believe that God puts our hopes and dreams in our hearts, and he will help us achieve them, but he wants us to keep our priorities in order.

Dear Lord, We submit our desires to you. If it is your will, help us achieve and realize our hopes and dreams, and if you have other plans, we thank you for that as well. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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One thing that will cause frustration in our lives is comparing ourselves to others. God made us all so unique, in our skills, circumstances, relationships, and so many other ways that there truly is no way to make an accurate comparison. We can often fall into the trap of comparing individual aspects of our lives to other people’s. The trouble occurs when we believe we are “better,” than others, or when we believe we are “inferior,” to others. Both of these situations cause trouble.

God made each of us uniquely for his purpose. In Galatians 6:4,5 Paul writes, “Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.”
He also wrote in Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

We need to focus on where God is leading us, and be happy for others’ that do the same in their lives.

Dear Lord, You made amazing plans for each of us, but we must trust you to see where they lead. Help us do that, by just taking each step forward in the direction we hear you calling, and not compare ourselves to others who are on their own paths. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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