Appreciate Your Life
Whatever you think about throughout the day, will affect your whole personality and mood. If you spend your day thinking about golf, you will become a golf fanatic. If you spend your time thinking about traveling, you will find yourself spending your day daydreaming about being somewhere on vacation. If you spend your day thinking about the negative things around you and things to complain about, you will develop a negative outlook on life. Your gratitude is powerful! Thoughts of thankfulness and gratitude can lift the spirit and counteract against negative thoughts. Gratitude is the power of increase in action. In fact, one of the definitions of “appreciate” is “to increase in value.” For example, art can appreciate in value. The dollar can appreciate in value and so it’s worth more. Take a moment to think. What do you appreciate most about your life? When we give thanks and appreciate someone or something that God has given us, not just with our words, but with our hearts, we are acknowledging the important value of our blessings. One of the vital steps to developing a thankful personality, is to meditate (that is to think about often) the things that you have in your life to be thankful for. Make a list of the things God has done for you, and keep those things on your mind throughout the day. It may take a little more work at first, especially if your mind is programmed to think negatively. Many of us were not taught the practice of how to give thanks, and I have good news, because you can start today! Throughout each day, focus on one thing that you can to give thanks to God for. This process begins the renewing of your mind as God's Word tells us to do. How do we renew our minds? Do we renew them by sitting in church, daydreaming about other things? No, we renew our minds by feeding and meditating on uplifting things (the many blessings in our lives) and the truth in God's Word. As God renews your mind, you can begin to experience joy like never before.
Philippines 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, Thank You for giving us joy! Oh help us to experience it all day long. Let us face the day and choose to focus on whatever brings a smile to our face, and ignore the other stuff. I am so grateful for everything that you have given me. I appreciate the small blessing that I get to enjoy daily. Thank you so much for the loved ones in my life, for the many ways in which I am cared for and supported. Thank you for the many ways I can serve and give to others. Thank you for the many colors in creation, for the beauty which is all around me. Thank You Lord for the breathtaking sunsets and early morning mists. I pray that you would help me to renew my mind by Your Word. We want a good life Lord, please help us to choose joy today.
Amen.