I saw this quote today, and boy did it get under my skin! It’s a very challenging statement, don’t ya think? Hhmmmm…. What did I take the time to thank God for yesterday?  Anything?  But how many things did I complain about?  Probably a lot.  Last night Sidney and I watched Facing the Giants, and the coach said something that made me think.

Your action always follow your beliefs; if you expect defeat then that’s what you’ll get.

I’m pretty sure these two things go together.  If I believe I will have a good day, in spite of circumstances, the less defeated I’ll feel.  The more aware I am of all I have to be thankful for and the more I take the time to thank God for those things, the more my actions will flow from that heart of positive thinking and thankfulness. I want to become someone who continually has a heart of thankfulness, whose first words out of my mouth are positive and uplifting.  I can’t say I’m there right now.  I’m the first to admit I’ve allowed my heart and mind to expect bad things.  Even today at this very moment, I’m waiting to be devastated and have to face the next obstacle head on.  Oh, I have a will of steel and will run full-bore straight into whatever comes my way, but I don’t always do it with a good attitude. Well, it’s true.  I’m fully aware of how defeated I can so easily feel, but I also know how many things I’ve dealt with and learned to live with. I wouldn’t have made it this far without being able to focus on the good, but there’s always room for improvement.  And I’m striving for that.  It takes a lot of self-awareness to change your attitude, mine too.  I can’t imagine how my day would have been affected today if I was only given the things I was thankful for yesterday.  I don’t want to imagine it.  Cause I know it wouldn’t be pretty.

I’ve always loved I Thessalonians 3:15-18 ~ Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

What a challenge!  It’s what I’m striving for every day.  I want to be someone who, when asked, immediately says “my day is great!” in spite of whatever I am facing….and really mean it when I say it!  Who is joyful because I have chosen to look at the bright side and stay focused on all that is going well instead of focusing on all that is not.  My life has been filled with plenty of tough adventures these past few years, but I can honestly say I wouldn’t trade any of these experiences if it meant I wouldn’t have received the blessings that have come along the way.  And I am completely humbled by God’s generous provisions. I have so much to be thankful for. I will not live in defeat but instead, strive to live every day so that when I lay my head on my pillow at night, my heart is focused on all the good as I lay all the bad at Jesus’ feet, trusting his promise to take care of my worries and fears.  He loves me more than I am able to comprehend; I owe it to him to live a life of thankfulness.

What about you?  What will you have tomorrow if you are only given what you are thankful for today?  Are you living a life of defeat?  Are your thoughts so heavy with your challenges and difficulties that you can’t even see the blessings?  I’m praying for you today. And I say that sincerely.  Praying God will give you a heart surrendered to Christ, a mind focused on the good, a will of perseverance to tread through the difficulties you are facing right now, a life full of joy.  May God bless you with his presence, fill you with his love and cradle you in his strong, capable arms.