Just Because We Feel It Doesn't Make It Real

Our attitude toward unpleasant things is a vital part of going through them successfully. Although God never authors bad things, He does use them for our spiritual growth. God may use a grouchy person to help us become more patient. God did not cause them to be grouchy, but neither does He remove them from our life when we asked Him to. Instead, He uses them to change us!

I love this time of year for what it means spiritually, the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Physically, I don't like this time of year because it gets dark at 5:30 in the afternoon. When we start our day it's dark, and when we finish our work day it's dark. SEEMS dark all the time. Just because we feel it, doesn't make it real. But I've come to realize we base our understanding on how we look at things, not on how they actually are. I believe God allows time changes so we can appreciate the light when all seems dark. Same with our trials...we wouldn't appreciate the good if we didn't have the bad. But there is always something good in every situation, season, and heartache. If we can't see it, then we're not looking hard enough.

God has given us the gifts, talents, abilities, and grace we need to do His will in life. God's grace is actually His power and He will not only give us grace, but promises grace and more grace - and His power is available to us! Now, if we don't keep the right mind-set, the enemy can defeat us with thoughts of inadequacy, which he loves to do when he sees the opportunity. He is always prowling around.

Don't speak out of your emotions because how we feel does not always agree with God's Word. That's why it's important to realize that even though we feel it, it doesn't make it real.

We can easily deceive ourselves into thinking we have great faith but if we are easily defeated by challenges, then perhaps our faith is not as great as we thought it was.

Do your thoughts and words reflect your complete dependence on God, realizing that His abilities (not your own) empower you to do anything you need to do in life? I asked myself this question and did some self-examination and it did open my eyes to understanding that I need to make some changes, but changes for God are always good.

We must remember that negative words and words that speak of failure come from the enemy, not from God. God tells us to have courage, so always remember if you feel "dis- couraged," that is from Satan and if you feel "en-couraged," that is from God.

On this last day of November - I am, and always will be thankful for God who is forever on His throne. I am also thankful that though my little mind can't even begin to imagine the beauty and goodness of Heaven, this earth is not my home - all because of the hope I have in Jesus Christ!

Blessings,
Dalinda