Wipe Your Slate Clean

“to be made new in the attitude of your minds.”

Ephesians 4:23

The apostle Paul says that every day you need to put on a fresh new attitude. If you don’t start anew, you’ll bring all the negative from yesterday into today. You do that week after week and before long you’ll be critical, condescending, negative, and seeing the worst. “I don’t like my job. My house is too small. I’ll never get well.” That is an old sour attitude.

When you wake up each morning, you need to say, “Father, thank You that this day is a gift. Everything may not be perfect, but I’m grateful to be alive, grateful for my family, grateful for today’s opportunities. I’m going to make the most of this day.” That’s not just being positive, that’s putting on a fresh new attitude. You get rid of anything from yesterday that’s weighing you down and wipe the slate clean. Let go of the disappointments, let go of what didn’t work out, get your mind going in the right direction, and you’ll see God show out in your life.

~ Joel Osteen Devotional

Trust in the Lord

      

 “Trust in Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all yours ways submit to him,

and he will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

 It's hard for us to see God's vision for our lives, but if we trust in Him and have faith, He will guide us down the road that He's built especially for us.

~Woman’s Day Devotional

The Light of the World

                 

 “I am the light of the world.

Whoever follows me will never walk 

in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12

Just as ships follow lights to ensure safe passage, so we rely on the Light. Jesus’s death broke through the darkness, lighting the way for us. God’s Word, through the enlightening of the Holy Spirit, helps us understand and remember when we need His wisdom to steer us. Prayer, which serves dually as life boat and lighthouse throughout our everyday lives is an open line of communication not available to Old Testament believers. We learn from the beginning of the book of Genesis and John’s Gospel that Jesus was present, and that He is the Word. Everything the light touches, He is a part of.

~ Bible Tools

How to Stay Young All Your Life

 “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not grow faint.”

Isaiah 40:31

Our culture is obsessed with youth. Products abound that offer better health, fewer wrinkles, and increased energy, but these address the issue of aging only in superficial ways; nothing alters the fact that our bodies grow older. Feeling old, however, is not inevitable—with the right attitude, we can be young at heart no matter what our chronological age may be. We do this by cultivating ... 

• A God-Centered Focus. Keep your mind on the things above rather than on earthly things (Col. 3:2). See each day as an opportunity to trust God more fully, love Him more deeply, and serve Him more joyfully. 

• An Active Pursuit of Learning. Never stop learning from Scripture. Long for the Word the way a baby craves milk so you can continue to grow spiritually (1 Pet. 2:2).

• A Hopeful Outlook on Life. Let godly thinking shape your attitudes. Be joyful, thankful, and prayerful (1 Thess. 5:16-18).

• An Others-Centered Orientation. Don’t let yourself withdraw into self-absorption. Instead, invest your life in others for their spiritual encouragement and growth (1 Thess. 5:11). 

Staying young while growing old begins with your mind. So never stop learning, laughing, and loving God with all your heart.

~ Charles Stanley Devotional - In Touch Ministries

Wait

 “Wait for Lord; be strong and 

and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

Psalm 27:14

Practicing patience is difficult because it often goes against our expectations and desires for immediate results. This is especially true when we are waiting on the Lord and His timetable doesn’t match our own. In such situations, it’s important to remember we can’t go wrong waiting for Him. Blessings will come in God’s good time when we refuse to run ahead of Him.

We ask the Lord for what we think we need, based on our limited information. But His understanding is infinite. At times God simply says no to our requests. In other cases, He may adjust our desire to match His. And sometimes He answers in a way that looks nothing like what we requested, but it will be exactly what we need. A submissive heart accepts the omnipotent Father’s gentle redirection, recognizing that He is always right. 

Waiting patiently on the Lord strengthens our faith in Him: We learn to rest in His loving care and accept that whatever He gives us is best. It’s also a witness to others, who see His care and faithfulness to us and may choose to put their trust in Him as well.

~ Charles Stanley Devotional

God Is Our Hope

“But those who hope in the Lord, 

will renew their strength.”

Isaiah 40:31

“Hoping in the Lord is expecting that his promise of strength will help us to rise above life’s distractions and difficulties.  Do you believe God loves you and wants the best for you?  Can you relax, confident that his purposes are right?  Are you convinced that he has all power to control all of life - and your life as well?  Though your faith may be struggling or weak, accept his provisions and care for you.”

“Isaiah was speaking to the people that were broken, discouraged, and running weary.  He would tell them  to wait on the Lord for he will renew their strength and hearts.  This promise is beautiful and can be applied to us today.  If we wait on God he will show up, he will renew our being.”

~ Life Application Study Bible