Every day when I arise from sleep, my mind is overwhelmed by the choices at hand. Do I read? Should I write? Perhaps I need to work out? Maybe hitting the snooze button and rolling over is my best option. Either way, the choices you make will dictate the path your life takes.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. – Luke 12:34
Like most years, my New Years Resolutions are being modified as desires to lose weight, eat healthy and draw closer to God have fallen short. Sometimes I feel as if I am in a tug of war, pulled in a direction I don’t want to go, yet over time I submit, dragged to a new low. By enduring these trials, I am beginning to comprehend the words of the apostle Paul as he explains how the sinful nature can influence one’s priorities.
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. – Romans 7:15
When Jeremiah opened his mouth to Israel, negative messages usually came forth. Thus, this servant of God was nicknamed the weeping prophet. If you too feel depressed, frustrated or lost, there are some promises in the Bible to cling to. Lamentations 3:20-24 suggests God’s forgiveness is new every morning. Therefore, if you fail to keep the priorities that you hold dear, may God’s grace lift you up each time you fall.
As the newness of 2015 wears off, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it won’t be long until you experience a tired and weary soul. Whether its the cold and rainy weather on the East Coast or a lack of sunlight to brighten my day, it took less than a week for me to reach this state. Looking for a boost of energy, the Psalmist provides a message of hope.
My soul is weary with sorrow;strengthen me according to your word. – Psalm 119:28
The secret to overcoming this condition begins with searching for answers in the right place. Although advisers, counselors and friends may offer meaningful advice, there is one book that is living and active, Hebrews 4:12. When opened, the Bible possesses spiritual natural power to replace sorrow with faith, Romans 10:17. The more individuals begin to listen, mediate and study principles of truth inside, Joshua 1:8, souls become revitalized.
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. – Romans 10:17
In his farewell address as Israel’s leader, Moses simplifies the choices you have when you become weary in Deuteronomy 30:15. You can either spend your time on earth doing things that invigorate your life or focus on the negative, resulting in a slow death to your soul. Though you may be tempted by bitterness to complain, be wise in your response to suffering, 1 Peter 3:17-18. May God’s promises in the Bible lift you up whenever you face a tired and weary soul.
Turn my heart toward your statutesand not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things;preserve my life according to your word.– Psalm 119:36-37
There was in time in American history when most of its’ citizens would cross their i’s and dot their t’s. This was considered normal, a byproduct of rugged individualism. Unfortunately, those days have passed, leaving 2 extremes on either side of the spectrum: anal or apathetic.
Someone who is anal tends to be meticulous, a stickler for the rules, paying close attention to details. A negative connotation of anal are individuals who are OCD, suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder. Meanwhile, those who seem disinterested, emotionless or half-hearted are associated with apathy. Thus, there is a growing generation of people who either care too much or are tuning out society, lukewarm at best about life.
Jesus wasn’t a fan of politics, but he did speak out and against religious leaders who allowed ideology to trump God’s Word. Essentially, the anal are similar to self-righteous souls who look down at the flaws, mistakes and sinners around them without looking at themselves in the mirror. Whereas the apathetic realize their condition, yet like the prodigal son, most keep on going down a path toward destruction. Whether you are anal, apathetic or somewhere in between, may the parable of the Two Sons in Matthew 21:28-32 straighten you out to develop a Christ like life.
As I was struggling to fall asleep, the following acronym popped into my head: Previous Accidents Impacting Nerves. With 2 broken ribs, a lacerated liver and lungs still not functioning as they should, pain is something I must overcome if I want my health to be restored fully. Unfortunately, pain often influences individuals in a negative manner, leading to changed attitudes, behavior and unhealthy patterns.
For instance, once a solider completes his or her tour of duty, no one fully understands the hell they endured except for their squadron or team. Thus, when the John Rambo’s of America’s armed services return home, fitting in takes time and for some, adjusting to the spoiled brats of today’s culture never happens. Nightmares depict a living video game, without a happy ending or reset button to start life over.
Meanwhile, pain is something a husband and wife can never fully grasp once a decision to divorce fatally wounds the souls of their children. Blaming themselves, many youth across this country cry themselves to sleep, praying that mom and dad will change their mind. The unborn child doesn’t receive a voice, discarded in dumpsters daily as mothers can only think of what could have been. Pain is not a pleasant topic to address, yet without tackling these issues people of faith won’t learn to endure hardship as they should, 2 Timothy 2:3-5. As previous accidents impact your own nerves, come to Jesus for relief, nurturing your soul as you cope with these ongoing pains, Matthew 11:28-30.
Self fulfilling prophecy refers to one’s positive and negative expectations of an upcoming event which influences a person or group in a manner toward fulfilling their expectations. The optimistic individual will tend to keep a good attitude regardless of the circumstance often resulting in a positive outcome. Meanwhile, pessimists become flustered by the littlest trial, over acting like a drama king or queen, pushing pitiful souls toward disaster. If you’re not careful, you can become what you think, unless of course the mind of Christ resides within you, 1 Corinthians 2:16.
One of the greatest examples of this theory goes back to 1993-94, coaching high school basketball in Indiana. Except for our center, 6’4″ 250 pounds with hops, we didn’t have a team which intimidated others by our size. However, each player grasped their defined role, shared the basketball and developed a hunger for victory. During the regular season, we finished undefeated, never trailing for a second, tied at the outset of each game before taking a quick lead, usually by double digits. In the city championship semi-final game, a last second 3 pointer by our opponent sent the game into overtime, before winning comfortably by 6.
However, the finals were a different story, disrupted by the host team’s fans, we never got into a flow for the game. Facing our first deficit of the season, my team was down by 10 early, cutting the lead to 8 by halftime. Like the locker room speech in Remember the Titans, our players wanted to remain perfect, without a blemish on their record. Little by little, my team widdled the lead down to 2 points in the final minutes. When we tied the game at 57, we needed one more defensive stand to have a shot to win. After a solid defensive rebound and timeout, my team set up for one last shot. Packing in their zone to take away our big man, we replaced our power forward with an extra shooter, our 6th man. Though our best shooter missed with 3 seconds left on the clock, a long rebound to the weak side provided just enough room for our sub to float into the air to catch and tap in the miss before the buzzer sounded. We believed and were crowned city champions.
In life, people are gifted in different areas. Whether one is blessed in academics, athletics, drama, music or wisdom, you become a champion or loser within your mind. Sure, there are various degrees and levels in each field, but the battle for success lies in your own mind, James 1:5-8. The storms, waves and whitecaps in life will knock you down from time to time, leaving a sour taste. Yet, don’t let a defeat or loss turn into a lifestyle. Rather, guard your heart, Proverbs 4:23 and take your thoughts captive, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 so the memories of losing will be demolished.
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