How do we react when we are having a bad day?

“Bad days”, we all have them. Sometimes they come in bunches.  Sometimes they come seldom, thank goodness. Sometimes we get swarmed with them and then we don’t have another one for months. Personally I like the seldom category.  However, we have no control when we are hit with a bad day. What we do have control of is “how” we react to them.
That’s my next question, how do we react?  Do we carry on and make a scene, or make ourselves look foolish? Or perhaps we keep it bottled up inside and let it torment us all the more. We all have our own pressure points. What may hit my pressure points  may be trivial to you and vice versa.
Either way, we all get bothered at times. Therefore we must learn to deal with these times and be overcomers. We have the power and strength through our Lord Jesus Christ to be overcomers.  He fills us with His peace and comfort. He has already fought these battles for us. Therefore we can have the victory.
A lot of the outcome depends on our attitudes. Do we truly trust in the power Jesus has, and the strength He has given us? Do we sit and pout about the bad day we had? Do we go on social media and write an essay describing our bad day?  Or do we stand tall, and declare victory in the name of Jesus, giving all of our troubles to Him, allowing Him to help us be strong?
What describes a bad day? It may be financial. It may be relationships. It may be work situations. Or it may be your health. No matter what defines your day, it is not more powerful, or stronger than our Lord Jesus.
I want to encourage you, faithful readers, make a decision to join me, let’s do our best to be victorious.  Let’s stand tall.
Trust me, I know it can be very hard. But we have to push through that barrier with all we have. Yes, Jesus already won, but He wants us to get up and be proactive.
I pray that you are encouraged to stand your ground.  I pray that Jesus fills you with His power and strength. I know He is here with us all and cross s that victory line with us.  Amen!

Where does our power come from?

We all need a power source. Without one we are powerless. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you are, what you believe, you still need a power source to plug in to. The question is, who or what is your power source.
I am not talking about our electricity. I am not talking about our finances. I am not talking about our flesh.  I am talking about our spirits, our souls.  I like to break this down into two categories, a power that gives life, and a power that gives death.
We all want life. But we all don’t seek the life giving power of Jesus. So many think they can do it on their own, or rely on the resources of the world. Those resources are not all bad. But unless we are drawing from the life giving power of Jesus Christ then we will fail and fall into darkness. There is only one way for us to live in the light, live in the life that lasts for an eternity. That is through our Lord Jesus Christ. That is it. That is the only way.
We all have struggles we go through. It could be your job, your finances, your personal life, your health. No matter what it is, it can wear you down. Unless we have the life giving power of Jesus, we cannot overcome those struggles. Remember, I am speaking of our spirits, our souls. But these struggles will affect our inner being, our souls.
As I’ve written before, my health is a daily struggle. I have a choice as to how I will handle this struggle. I could lay in bed all day and choose to be in self pity.  By the way that is a dark place.
I could complain all day and ask God why I have to deal with this. Or I can get up, stand firm on the Word of God, and draw on the power of Jesus, determined to walk in the light, hope, love that Jesus fills me with.
That is the kind of power I want. Nothing drains your power and strength more quickly than dwelling in a negative, dark place. Jesus gave His all so we can walk in His light. He doesn’t want His children dwelling in darkness. He loves us too much. That is why He sacrificed His own life, so that we could live an eternity with Him, in His light.
I’m sure some may be thinking how can I say that since I am not healed. I don’t know why I am not totally healed. But what I do know is Jesus gives me victory everyday. Every step I take is a miracle. Every breath I breathe is a miracle. Every beat my husband’s heart beats is a miracle. (That is a story for another time). Just because I haven’t been totally healed doesn’t mean I have lost my battle. Jesus is working in my body 24/7. And the same for all of you. He has plans for all of us.
My prayer has always been for Jesus to use my situation to help others, and that He be glorified in it all.
I would say for me, this is walking in the power of Jesus. My heart wants to always please our Lord God. Sure I may slip, but He is right there to pick me up. And the same for you. No matter what your struggle is, Jesus is there to lift you up, He is there to fill you with life giving power.
He is the great I Am! You don’t have to go through life alone, or in a dark place. That is a lie from the pit of hell.  And it is powerless in our lives because Jesus reigns and His power rules over any other power there is.

Challenges in the Midst of Your Hope

Most of you know by now where my hope and faith come from. My Lord Jesus. That is also where my strength, wisdom, knowledge, perseverance comes from. Without Jesus and His Holy Spirit I would not have these in my life. I am totally convinced of that.
With that said, what do we do when we have challenges and "big" hurdles in the midst of that hope?
As you know, I have many health issues I struggle with. Most coming from the result of the spinal cord damage, and then others from the leukemia. These last several weeks I've had some hurdles to get over. I've had some new challenges. The question is how do I respond to these things without losing my hope and faith? How do I react so that I am not losing my trust that Jesus has His best for me?
I respond the only way I know how, prayer. I have to get into that quiet place with Jesus and have a nice comforting conversation with Him. I need to know that I am walking in the wisdom He has given me. I need to know that I am not relying solely on someone else's suggestion. Then I must take that wisdom and discern what is right for me. My doctor, whom I have a very good relationship with, understands my concerns, and even my fears. This is important. We need to have that type of trust. With her wisdom and knowledge, we talk things through, weigh the pros and cons, and together with my husband, make a decision that is best for me. But none of this happens before I have totally put my trust in Jesus, and had the conversation with him. I need to know I am walking in the path Jesus has set before me.
Okay, I can hear some comments now  "If you are trusting in Jesus then why aren't you healed?"
"If you want to trust Jesus, then why do you need a doctor to treat you?"
I have heard all of these comments many times. I do not have all the answers. But I do know my body is flesh. My body will never be perfect until the day I go to heaven. If Jesus chooses, He can heal me instantly, or over a period of time. But the one thing I have always believed is that I want Jesus to be glorified through my situation, and I want others to see the hope I have because of Jesus' love for me.
I want others to have hope for their own lives.
With all of that said, how do I keep that hope and faith in the midst of decisions. I have that personal relationship with Jesus so when I sit and spend time with Him, I know with my whole heart Jesus is with me no matter what. Even if I may not make the best decision, Jesus won't desert me. He will continue to guide me through my trials. That is faith and hope and trust in my Lord. And that is how I get through my challenges and maintain my hope.
You also can have that hope through any trial you go through. Jesus is always with you. He comforts us, fills us with His peace, floods us with His love, and has His arms around us.
Faithful readers, I pray that whatever your challenge is, whatever your hurdle is, you can reach deep within and pull out that hope, and run right through those hurdles. Jesus is right there with you.