April 25: HOPE IS BETTER THAN ANYTHING UNCERTAINTY PUTS IN FRONT OF US.

Affirmation: I choose to be self- compassionate and resilient.

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Job 33:4 ESV
~~~~~~Ponder, Personalize: These 3 verses, 1Thessalonians 5:16-18, give us 3 directives, along with how often we should do them and then an explanation or a reason for those directives: Rejoice. Pray. Give thanks. How often? Always. Continually. In all circumstances. Why? It is God’s will for you and me. Practice, practice and practice. ❤️
16 ”Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.“                ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬https://bible.com/bible/111/1th.5.16-18.NIV

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Wholehearted Guidepost from Brené Brown 

Cultivate Self-Compassion and Resilience 

Let Go of Perfectionism and Fear of the Dark

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Mastering the 7 Decisions from Andy Andrews 

The Guided Decision 

I will seek wisdom

Sometimes the questions are complicated, but the answers are simple.

Knowing that wisdom waits to be gathered, I will actively search her out. My past can never be changed, but I can change the future by changing my actions today. I will change my actions today! I will train my eyes and ears to read and listen to books and recordings that bring about positive changes in my personal relationships and a greater understanding of my fellow man. No longer will I bombard my mind with materials that feed my doubts and fears. I will read and listen only to that which increases my belief in myself and my future. (Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all situations for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 😍)

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Reading for Today

Walk in Grace. Live in Love. by Bob Goff

April 25

HOPE IS BETTER THAN ANYTHING 

UNCERTAINTY PUTS IN FRONT OF US. 

In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. 

1 PETER 1:3-4 

I've been with plenty of friends when they received a devastating diagnosis. I've learned there's nothing you can say to someone who just learned they have one year to live. There is no pep talk for someone who's just been told they'll likely never get out of the wheelchair. Sometimes the only appropriate response is to grab a hand and cry. 

I've also lived long enough to watch these friends stare into the face of uncertainty and choose hope. They've chosen to say; "Sure, the odds are against me, but God is not." They've chosen to hope for an extra decade with their families or to imagine one more walk by the ocean. Why? Because choosing the way of hope is far better than anything uncertainty puts in front of us. 

We might not have faced anything as devastating as these things, but we've all faced the choice between hope and fear. Whether it's questions about what exactly will happen when we pass away or uncertainty about whether we'll find love in our lives down the road, we've had to face the unknown. But when we stand at this intersection, fear tries to shrivel our hearts and shrink us down. Hope is the opposite, though—it swells our hearts and makes us expand. Hope restores the life fear tries to steal. Yesterday already happened and tomorrow isn't here yet. We only have today. We've got people to encourage and another huge invitation to a life of whimsy. We can either wring our hands about what we don't know, allowing fear to take over the moment, or we can choose hope and let love reign. The path is yours and mine to choose every day. 

 

What will it be for you today?