Life is Good
God is the Giver of Life
“We have all been in situations where we’ve almost enjoyed wallowing in negative emotions. we carry on angrily about the driver who cut us off…long after he has disappeared from view; we nurse a grudge against someone who said something hurtful;or we sulk in response to being disappointed. But what is the end result? Will entertaining and acting on the negative emotion move us in the direction of our highest good? Will that negative emotion bless those closest to us? Will it help us reach our goals? In a marriage for example, is the goal to be right or to be happy?” (from The 4:8 Principle by Tommy Newberry)
Praise Prayer/ Psalm 150
Praise the LORD
Praise God in his sanctuary;
Praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power;
Praise him for his surpassing greatness,
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet.
Praise him with the harp and lyre,
Praise him with tambourine and dancing,
…Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the LORD.
Truth Dare
1 Thessalonians 5:14-20
“Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit’s fire…hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.”
Challenge Steps
- Living in peace requires looking for any good and dwelling in that
- Living in peace with others requires first trusting and thanking God for your own life
- Encouraging others does not happen when we are negative, all negativity must be turned around
- Pay back for wrongs done is a work of the flesh…steer clear of that
- Don’t give your joy away because you have problems, a bad day or have been hurt
- Don’t cave into your hurt, trust God with it
- Pray many times throughout the day, so that you learn to live in a prayerful life
- Thank God for anything and everything. This feels weird at first… but, it will change you.
- Keep in mind, it is God’s will that you are thankful and hold on to the good.
- Finally, avoid or stay away from, all kinds of evil and negative influence.
Daily Prayer
Lord, the rubber meets the road in my faith walk when I am asked to stretch beyond my normal negative or low level of emotional functioning and praise you. It is far easier to look for bad. There is more action and activity in that kind of life…the drama, you know it Lord. But, your word says to stay away from it, avoid it, and hold on to only good, pleasing and pure things. Loving others, loving you, being thankful…all good things. Lord I declare to you today, the maker of my life, that life is GOOD and you are GOOD and I praise you GOD! Help me to look for Good and to capture the sparkle in each moment…one moment at a time, one day at a time, for life is short…and life is good.
