It’s important to realize that there is one, and only one thing in life that is completely within your power to control and that is your response to what happens to you. No one can dictate your response and your attitude. When you find yourself overcome with feelings of fear, discouragement, grief or helplessness, you can decide to put a stop to these feelings by choosing to replace them with more encouraging thoughts. For example, when you feel overwhelmed, you can start thinking about how everything will work out for the better.

Your feelings are a direct result of the thoughts you think. We have to recognize the thought patterns that discourage us and create fear and worry. Choose to replace those thoughts with “I can” thoughts. Most of the things we worry about never come to pass. Changing our thought patterns will go a long way to changing us in a good way.

Just a Thought,
PSS
Legacychurch.com

Have you ever thought about the statement, “Things happen for a reason?” I think sometimes people think like this as a way to absolve themselves from any responsibility for what happens. At other times, it could be a coping mechanism to help them through a tough or hurtful situation. I believe that, for the most part, things do happen for a reason.

One mom said, “Everything happens for a reason, but sometimes the reason is because you’re stupid and make bad decisions.” I wonder why people have a hard time taking responsibility for their actions and decisions and want to lay it off on someone or something else. Sometimes people use this reasoning to blame God or to justify some decision they have made that didn’t work out. Again, maybe this is a coping mechanism to keep their sanity through a difficult time.

Taking responsibility is the first step towards change and becoming healthier as a person. To accept the things we have done or the choices we have made and leaving them in the past is the only way we can truly be better and live better.

Just a Thought,
PSS
Legacychurch.com

Self-esteem is about what and who you identify with. It’s about how we feel about ourselves and not what others think about us.  Self-esteem is defined as a belief in oneself, or self-respect. Another definition says it is proper respect for one’s self and one’s worth as a person. How we view ourselves is important and it will determine how we treat others as well.

We are taught that we shouldn’t’ think too highly of ourselves and we definitely don’t want to become conceited, but on the other hand, we don’t want to demean ourselves to the point of self-loathing either. We need to see ourselves as God’s creation; fearfully and wonderfully made. We will make mistakes, but it’s healthy for you to like yourself. You’re not perfect, and still need to work on things, but you shouldn’t allow the actions and speech of others to blind you to your own value and worth. Self-esteem is about how you view yourself, so start to see yourself in a better light and don’t worry about your shortcomings. Work on them and acknowledge that you were created to be incredible!

Spiritual drift is when something happens to you at church (or with somebody who attends church) and it adversely affects you in a negative or hurtful manner. You then quit going to church and begin to say, “If that’s how Christians act, I’ll just never go to church.” When you begin to drift spiritually, the temptation is to abandon church entirely. This isn’t good for you, your peace of mind or peace of heart.

Spiritual drift could happen when you get out of the habit of going to church. Hebrews 10:25 says “…not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together…” Part of our spiritual health is to attend and be involved in a local church. Spiritual drift leads us to a backslidden state where we are out of fellowship with God and His kingdom. Staying at home and calling that church doesn’t work. If you have drifted spiritually, it’s time to reconnect with a local church and get involved. If things are going on that have hurt you, don’t allow yourself to be removed from the local church. It’s not worth it. Let’s become useful for God’s kingdom. Let’s become people who bear much fruit where we are making a difference.

Just a Thought,
PSS
Legacychurch.com

All of us suffer from indecision at times. If we’re not careful, this can become a debilitating problem. Indecision is often related to lack of self-confidence and a tendency to worry about potential problems.  Indecision is often worse than the wrong action. – Henry Ford. What happens to us is we worry about our decision way too much. Sometimes there is not a right or wrong decision, just a decision to make. Low self-esteem and worrying about the wrong decision can keep us from making one at all, and the end result is unhappiness. Some people have the toughest time deciding what to wear that day. Some people blame a wrong decision they may have made years ago for the unhappiness they feel today.  We try to make the best choices at the time. Sure, if we could go back, we may have done things differently; that’s hindsight. But, we can’t go back, can we? So we do the best with what we have and know. We don’t ever live with regret. Make the choice and live with it with a good attitude. Know that every choice you make will not be a perfect one.

Just a Thought,
PSS
Legacychurch.com