Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. -Romans 12:2 (NIV) 

Sometimes, it just seems like everyone is against you. Everything is going wrong. Things can’t get worse.

Oh, but things can always be worse. Be truly grateful for that.

You can control how you view your situation, and a more positive outlook will suddenly show you how much more bearable everything really is. How agreeable others are, when you don’t assume negatively about them, or treat them negatively.

You’d be surprised how often making a positive change in your mindset and behavior can effect change around you. Try it.

This Joyce Meyer devotional explains how to change your mindset through meditation and reflection on the Word, and through authentic surrender:

For years I tried to make things in my life change and didn’t get anywhere. I would study the Bible and try. I would go to church and hear a message and try. Then I would tell God how hard I was trying, thinking maybe He’d feel sorry for me. And then I would go into my “drama” and say, “I just give up, God…”

The problem was, I was “trying” in my own strength, and I needed God’s help. I needed to realize the truth about myself and my situation before I could get His help and see results.

Read the whole devotional »

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. -Hebrews 11:1 (NASB)

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. -John 15:7 (NASB)

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. -1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV)

When you drive, long, straight roads are easy to drive. You just modulate the gas pedal and keep the wheel fixed.

But when you arrive at curves and corners, you learn to make adjustments. You have to look far ahead. Your alertness is heightened. You have the chance to learn when and where to brake, when to apply gas, and even how traction, weight transfer, and suspension systems work.

In life, we go down snaking, winding roads, sprinkled with straightaways.

I like to think of waiting on prayers as negotiating a blind curve in a car: we can’t see the end of the curve, so we keep looking ahead and maintain our course to hold the curve. God knows just how long the curve is in time and distance. Will we be as steadfast in holding the curve in prayer and belief that what we pray for will come to pass? Or will we give up because we can’t see the end in our shortsightedness?

We all want long, smooth straightaways, but taking on curves teaches us endurance, patience, trust, faith, and to welcome Him fashioning us during this amazing drive.

He will get you past the curve in His perfect will and timing, when all is ready and laid out for you…and you will also be prepared for it once you leave the curve. While you’re in the curve, give Him thanks and praise for preparing you and your way ahead of you, and hold on to His promises.

Don’t give up and pull over discouraged because the road isn’t easy, or because we can’t see the destination. Enjoy what He’s teaching you as you are negotiating the curve.

Joyce Meyer has a great devotional on when you think God’s timing is taking too long. Here’s an excerpt:

We spend a lot of time in our lives waiting because change is a process. Many people want change, but they don’t want to go through the waiting process. But the truth is, waiting is a given—we are going to wait. The question is, are we going to wait the wrong or right way? If we wait the wrong way, we’ll be miserable; but if we decide to wait God’s way, we can become patient and enjoy the wait.

Read the whole devotional »

The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. -Proverbs 15:4

Words have power.

We can build others up or destroy them with our words. My wife once told me that, when she was in grade school, her teacher said the sixth commandment (You shall not kill) also applied to the words we said. So, we can hurt, maim, and kill others with our choice of words…especially when we let our words flow recklessly and without restraint. We can unleash words that can leave marks and scars on the recipients.

This is an area where I’m working on improving, and continue to do so daily. It’s sometimes my inappropriate sense of humor, or my lack of restraint when having to throw in a jab or potshot…and I’m doing better at it.

For some of us, it might be gossip, casting a negative light on others, or just out-and-out insults and bashing. We can all work on being more prudent with what leaves our mouths.

A Joyce Meyer devotional on the topic expounds on these six points:

• Use your words to bless.
• Be thankful and say so.
• Encourage, edify, and build others up.
• Tell the truth.
• Speak the word of God.
• Don’t talk too much.

Read the entire devotional »