I Choose Today...

I Choose Today Positive Self-Talk

Negative self-talk… I think we all have that one down pat. This has been one of the biggest hurdles for me to overcome. As I grew up, there was a lot of hurtful, minimizing, oppressive words spoken to me: you are dumb, stupid, and you will never amount to anything so don’t even try; people like you don’t make a difference; what do you know… nothing, so sit down and be quiet. These are words that the father of lies, the devil, willingly replayed for me over and over again all throughout my life. When I would try something new, he would put this tape on repeat. I would believe it and quit. If I tried something and failed just a little, again the tape would play. (Negative self-talk). It wasn’t until the Lord spoke into my life the truth of who I am in Him – His child, His masterpiece, His creation made on purpose for a purpose – did I start a new tape. (Positive self-talk). I read something recently that resonated with me. Someone wisely said, “What if we agreed with our Creator and called ourselves fearfully and wonderfully made? A masterpiece? A daughter of the King?

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I Choose Today to be mindful

This verse spoke to me, “…Don’t you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough?” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Even though yeast is so small, it affects the whole loaf. Yeast represents sin, especially my own sin. I know I can justify a little white lie, another glance, another indulgence, another purchase, etc. I can ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit to run because it is no big deal, no harm done. But that is a lie of the enemy. Like yeast affects the whole loaf, sin affects the whole body. The little sin has the opportunity to grow then becomes so big in one’s life that the sin is becoming shameful, humiliating, and separates us from God (He is holy and cannot look on sin). It also spreads to all areas of our lives, including our relationships, our testimony for Christ, our mental and physical health. “Holy Spirit, convict us when we are justifying the “little sins” we are allowing into our lives. Help us to remember yeast affects the whole loaf just as sin affects everything in our lives, especially our relationship with our precious Lord who went

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To Stay Focused

I choose today to stay focused “Those who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭165‬ ‭NLT‬‬ David knew the importance of being strong and not growing weary. David understood that if he stumbled, because he was being pursued, he would be caught by the enemy. He knew his strength came from God’s Word. His peace also came from keeping his focus on God and His goodness and deliverance. It is good to know who our enemy is; Satan and not others. Satan is the great deceiver. He takes the  20% of which is not good and makes that our focus instead of the 80% of what is good. He makes it seem like the bad is all there is; that there is no way out of it or getting beyond it other than to quit (give up, walk away) from relationships, neighbors, coworkers, family. He makes it seem like quitting/walking away is our only option for peace. But that is a big fat lie! God Word says (through David, Joshua, Isaiah, Jesus) that when we meditate on God’s Word, we will find new strength, prosper in all we do, not stumble but stand, not grow

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