Dear Ones,
Hope you had a great weekend and are finding joy as you prepare for Christmas. I plan to bake and go to Aldi’s and my exercise class this morning. Devotions from Judy’s heart
Lately I have been reminded of how important our thoughts are and can make the difference in how we view our day. Our mood can go quickly south if we begin letting our mind dwell on something negative and soon our conversation gets negative, and we lose our joy.  How sad as we will miss all the good things the Lord has for us in our day. The choice is ours of what we fill our minds with from the time we wake up until we go to bed.

I read a Psalm the first thing one morning that made me picture someone who wanted to think rightly and he said, “I will sing to the Lord throughout my life. I will make music to praise my God as long as I live. May my thoughts be pleasing to Him. I will find joy in the Lord.” (Psalm 104:33-34) That Psalmist also starts the Psalm with, “Praise the Lord, O my soul!” and ends with the same words, as he declaring praise to the One who is worthy of all praise.

If God is in charge of our lives, then we can know that if something happens that is not as we would choose, yet He has a purpose for it. We don’t need to get down and complain and splash our negativity on others but like the Psalmist look around at the greatness and beauty of all God has created and is doing and give Him praise.  I also read from Psalm 97 and in verse 11 it says, “Light-seeds are planted in the souls of God’s people, Joy-seeds are planted in good heart-soil.” I like that imagery for His light will shine in the places that seem dark to us and joy seeds will erupt in our souls.

Let us fill our thoughts with praise to the Lord and cast aside all negative thoughts for we have a big God who reigns over all things.

Challenge for today: Begin your day with praise and purpose to find joy in Him no matter what happens.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy