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No matter the trials that come our way, it is up to us on how we react to
them. We can either murmur and complain because we believe the problems
are too difficult to overcome, or we can choose to put on a cheerful
countenance and know that we will be well equipped to face and overcome
every obstacle that comes our way. I choose the second option at all times
because faith does not work in the presence of a complaining spirit. We
cannot expect to be overcomers in life when all we do is see the negatives
and reasons why something can't be done. We must change our viewpoint and
see things in a positive light. (Psalm 28:7) (Ephesians 4:22-27)
When we change our mindset and choose to have an easy-going and cheerful
attitude, we will find our problems being solved with much less stress and
worry and our hearts will be filled with peace because we chose to trust
the Lord and not depend on ourselves. Be encouraged to reevaluate how you
react to negative situations and if you need to; put on a cheerful
countenance and let God know that you are trusting Him to bring the answers
to your problems. (Habakkuk 3:17-19) (Psalm 28:7)
I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to see the benefits
of having a cheerful attitude in life. Looking at the good even when we
are tempted to focus on the bad does so much to brighten our viewpoint and
show us that it's good to be alive today.
THE CHEERFUL EXAMPLE
At the beginning of my 8:00 a.m. class one Monday at UNLV, I cheerfully
asked my students how their weekend had been. One young man said that his
weekend had not been very good. He’d had his wisdom teeth extracted. The
young man then proceeded to ask me why I always seemed to be so cheerful.
His question reminded me of something I'd read somewhere before: “Every
morning when you get up, you have a choice about how you want to approach
life that day,” I said to the young man. “I choose to be cheerful.”
“Let me give you an example,” I continued. The other sixty students in
the class ceased their chatter and began to listen to our conversation.
“In addition to teaching here at UNLV, I also teach out at the community
college in Henderson, about seventeen miles down the freeway from where I
live. One day a few weeks ago I drove those seventeen miles to Henderson.
I exited the freeway and turned onto College Drive. I only had to drive
another quarter-mile down the road to the college. But just then my car
died. I tried to start it again, but the engine wouldn’t turn over. So I
put my flashers on, grabbed my books, and marched down the road to the college.
“As soon as I got there I called AAA and asked them to send a tow truck.
The secretary in the Provost's office asked me what had happened. ‘This
is my lucky day,’ I replied, smiling.
“‘Your car breaks down and today is your lucky day?’ She was puzzled.
‘What do you mean?’
“‘I live seventeen miles from here.’ I replied. ‘My car could have broken
down anywhere along the freeway. It didn't. Instead, it broke down in the
perfect place: off the freeway, within walking distance of here. I'm
still able to teach my class, and I've been able to arrange for the tow
truck to meet me after class. If my car was meant to break down today, it
couldn't have been arranged in a more convenient fashion.’
“The secretary's eyes opened wide, and then she smiled. I smiled back and
headed for class.” So ended my story to the students in my economics class
at UNLV. I scanned the sixty faces in the lecture hall. Despite the early
hour, no one seemed to be asleep. Somehow, my story had touched them. Or
maybe it wasn't the story at all. In fact, it had all started with a
student's observation that I was cheerful.
A wise man once said, “Who you are speaks louder to me than anything you
can say.” I suppose it must be so.
By Lee Ryan Miller
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Matthew 12:35-37 Jesus declares “A good man out of the good treasure of the
heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure
bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that
men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the Day of Judgment.
For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be
condemned.”
Philippians 2:2-3 “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same
love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife
or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than
themselves.”
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 “I call heaven and earth to record this day against
you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing:
therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou
mayest love the LORD Thy God, and that thou mayest obey His voice, and
that thou mayest cleave unto Him: for He is thy life, and the length of
thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy
fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
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: LOVE IN THE HOME
Click here to read --- http://www.godswork.org/inpoem143.htm
Today's Selected Testimony: I ALMOST DIED IN SIN
Click here to read --- http://www.godswork.org/testimony185.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
