Keys to Living the Right Life
God sees you as blessed and highly favored. How do you see yourself?
Far too often we limit ourselves based on our own abilities. We assume because we don’t have enough money, know the right people, or have the right experience that the world will simply pass us by. We get trapped in cycles and feel like no matter what we do, it will never be enough to break through. Before we know it, our thoughts, our words, and even our actions will start to echo those feelings of defeat. But this is not how God intends for you to live your life!
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9
To live the life God has destined for you, you must see yourself as He sees you! God wants you to be aware of more than your fears and failures; He wants you to realize the potential you have in Him. It doesn’t matter where you’ve been, it matters where you’re going, and where God is calling you.
If you’re going to change the situation you’re in, you’ve got to start by believing you are who God says you are!
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” –Ephesians 2:10
You have to change your focus. Start focusing on the target—the dream Jesus has put in your heart!
“Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus.” –Hebrews 3:1
Stop listening to the negative, and let the joy of the Lord be your strength!
“Light shines on the godly, and joy on those whose hearts are right.” –Psalm 97:11
Remember God chose you! He wants you to be the best version of yourself and He’s equipped you to do the task!
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” –John 15:16
When you change your thoughts, your attitude, and your actions, your situation will begin to change. And better yet your perspective will change and open your eyes to possibilities you couldn’t see in the darkness! Even before the circumstances are changing, the atmosphere can change. You are in control of your atmosphere, and God responds to an atmosphere of praise.
When Paul and Silas were bound in prison – hands and feet in chains, backs lacerated from whips – they begin to sing praise. They didn’t wait for answers. They didn’t wait for their deliverance to come. They didn’t wait for the doors to open … they changed the atmosphere they were in. They refused the let their circumstances dictate how they would respond. God showed up in the midst of their praise and worship! They filled that filthy, dark, inner cell with the Light of the World and it changed the atmosphere! The earthquake shook open the doors and miraculously unbound the chains of all the prisoners – not just Silas and Paul – their praise affected everyone around them.
The most amazing part of this story is no one took off running! If you had a chance to break out of the worst situation you’ve ever been in, wouldn’t you run as fast as you could? They waited on their enemy, and even the prison guard found the joy of the Lord after experiencing the atmosphere Paul and Silas had created. There’s hope … God can soften their heart … yes, even the person you’re thinking of.
Take inventory of your situation. What can you change? How can you shift your thoughts and conversation to put the focus back on Jesus? What lies have you started to believe about yourself that you need to combat with the truth of God’s Word?
Change your atmosphere, and change will follow!
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