One thing that is entirely within our control in life is how we react when a negative situation comes our way. Many times when people face difficulties their first reaction is a negative one. The murmur, they complain, they say why me, they have a pity party and they let everyone around them know just how miserable they presently are. That is not how we should react when we face trials, setbacks and difficulties in life. We each have the choice to stay in peace or to stay in worry and complaint. The optimists will say nothing can ruin my day while the pessimists say anything can ruin mine. (Psalm 34:1-4) (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

In order to be positive in the midst of the difficulties, we must be quick to remember all of the good that is in our life. We must consciously choose to remember the many difficulties and obstacles that we have overcome in times past and have an assured knowing that we will become better after these current trials just as we were made better before. Another powerful weapon that should be utilized is giving Thanks and Praise to God for His sustenance and provision over our life. A grateful heart will not have any room for complaints. When we focus on gratitude and make known our appreciation, the trials that once seemed so overwhelming will become miniscule by comparison. (Isaiah 40:28-29) (2 Corinthians 12:8-10)

Be encouraged to reevaluate your reaction to negative situations. See that it is within your control to focus on the good, to give thanks for your many blessings, to make the Lord know that you are grateful for the many times that He has delivered you in times past, and make it a point to give God Praise that He will be with you at this present time as well. Seeing the good and focusing on all that we have is a life changer. It will not be easy for us to murmur and complain when we are so focused on all that we have to be thankful for. I encourage you again to choose thankfulness over complaint, to focus on the good and not on the bad and always no matter how tempted you are see your glass as half-full and never half empty. You will see miracles take place in your life when you do. (Psalm 103:1-5) (Psalm 34:17-19)

I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to see that it is within your ability to react correctly when a trial comes your way.


RESISTING THE BLAME GAME

A mother heard the family cat yowl in pain. She knew where to look – she looked for her son, Mike. “Stop pulling the cat's tail, Michael!” she chided.

“I'm not pulling his tail,” the boy retorted. “I'm just standing on it. He's doing the pulling.”

He, of course, is no different than any of us. Often, our first impulse is to blame someone or something else for problems. It's the cat's fault. Or the school's fault. Or my parents' fault.

I once heard a story of a 40-year-old woman who was jogging in a U. S. state park when she was attacked and killed by a mountain lion. Her family immediately filed suit against the state because of its “failure to manage the mountain lion population” and because it didn't “react to reports of cougar activity in the area by posting warning signs.”

But an interesting thing happened. Her distraught husband felt it was wrong to blame the state or anyone else for his wife's death, even though he stood to possibly win a small fortune. Against her family's wishes, he dropped the law suit. “Barbara and I have always taken responsibility for our own actions,” he explained. “Barbara chose to run in the wild and, on a very long shot, she did not come back. This is not the fault of the state, and people should take responsibility for themselves.”

I would like to meet that man. He no doubt believes that the Blame Game is a no-win in the long run. He seems like a person who would rather spend time fixing what's broken than fixing the blame for it on someone else.

This isn't about law suits – it's more about whether we are essentially victims of life or whether we are powerful and responsible people. An important step in gaining mastery over your life is to resist the urge to make something or someone else responsible. Like novelist J. K. Rowling said to graduating Harvard students, “There is an expiry date on blaming your parents for steering you in the wrong direction; the moment you are old enough to take the wheel, responsibility lies with you.” Certainly background and circumstances have influenced who we are, but who is responsible for the person we become?

An important decision I made was to resist playing the Blame Game. The day I realized that I am in charge of how I will approach problems in my life, that things will turn out better or worse because of me and nobody else, that was the day I knew I would be a happier and healthier person. And that was the day I knew I could truly build a life that matters.

By Steve Goodier


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Habakkuk 3:17-19 “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds' feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places...”

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”

Hebrews 13:5-6 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

Isaiah 26:3-4 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.”

Philippians 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.”

All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. 


Today's Selected Poem: MESSAGES TO REMEMBER
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem110.htm

Today's Selected Testimony: HE WILL WORK IT OUT
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony68.htm


In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry