Take The High Road

(You'll be glad you did!!)

   My first thought this morning was “Ugh—I don’t feel so good.” The thoughts that followed were of the symptoms that I felt, and on their tail came plans for how I was going to spend the day. Ever felt that way? After that, who wants to even get up??

   In times like these, I have learned not to stay there and entertain those thoughts. After all, they are just thoughts with emotions attached to them. They urge me to make wrong choices—-stay in bed, cancel everything, plan to baby yourself…..

   So this morning I intentionally got up and said, “God, what would You have me to think today? What would You have me do?” 

   One evening in our small group from church, Dave gave a gal some very simple advice that has really stuck with me. He said, “Take the high road.” When we are in the middle of difficulty, we still have a choice. We can choose to take the high road.

   I was pondering that phrase this morning and I realized something. God is on the high road. He’s definitely not on the low road, so if we choose that route—and we can—God won’t be there. We are on our own there. We won’t get His direction and guidance that lead us to His peace and well-being. 

   I am realizing that in every situation that arises, I have a choice—I can take the high road or the low road. It’s as simple as that. The choice is mine. 

   God is on the high road and I certainly would not want to spend this day without Him. If I stick with God, I can go to bed tonight praising Him for His goodness towards me, and I’ll end up in a good place—poised and ready for the next day.

   And it doesn’t get any better than that!

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted 

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18 (NIV)

Even though I walk  through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Psalms 23:4 NIV

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 

who comforts us in all our troubles.......

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

Our prayer for the people of Orlando, Florida who have suffered such terrible loss this week: 

God do for them what only You can do. Comfort their hearts, O God and make known Your presence to them every minute of every day and every night. Strengthen them spirit, soul, and body, and reveal Your love to them in very special ways. Thank You, God.

WHAT IF.....

.....I really believed that this promise from God is true? What would I act like today?

 And we know that 

God causes everything 

to work together for the good 

of those who love God and are called 

according to his purpose for them.
ROMANS 8:28 
New Living Translation

Let's put this into action for one full day and then make a note of how our day turned out. 

I am smiling already in anticipation for how this day will be!!

"Messages of Joy”

Isaiah 61:3 The Message Bible

I have known the following promise for years and I had even put a little faith in it from time to time. A few weeks ago when I was in the middle of some "not-so-great" circumstances, I remembered this scripture and it began to take on new life. All of a sudden these were not just words on a page but they had real meaning. Because it seemed to have my name written all over, I decided to make this promise one of my "Core Beliefs." Core beliefs are those things that we believe in without question--something that we know to be true.

Here's the promise:

 And we know that 

God causes everything 

to work together for the good 

of those who love God and are called 

according to his purpose for them.

Romans 8:28 New Living Translation

So now if something happens during my day that brings me disappointment, sadness or sorrow, I run right to this core belief and say, "God, I know that You are causing everything in this situation to work together for my good. I thank You for that!"

Then I just wait to see how God will work everything out. As I wait, I just thank Him that He is a good Father and faithful to His promises. During this time of waiting, my anticipation grows because I have seen Him do some amazing things. God loves nothing more than to show Himself faithful to His kids. (Psalms 18:25)

Each of us is "called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:30) If we choose to love God and walk in His purpose, then He will take every bad situation and bring good out of it--if that is what we believe He will do. I enjoy watching God at work. He is very creative and He's got some great ideas and some phenomenal resources!

I hope you turn this promise into one of your core beliefs--a promise that you know to be true because you have watched it work in your own life.

By the way, I have started a notebook called "My Core Beliefs." If you would like to start your own and need some help, let me know. 

Have a great weekend--

Love, 

Karol