Yesterday I talked about exchanging thoughts. Directed by the exercise for Day 19 in 40 Days to a Joy-Filled Life, the objective was to come up with three encouraging scriptures to memorize and substitue for negative thoughts. That was good. What I left out is, in my opinion, even better because it feels more doable in a crisis. Have a … Continue reading 40 Day Journey to Joy – Day 20
Tag: Holy Spirit
40 Day Journey to Joy – Day 19
Did you know that it’s impossible to think two thoughts at once? As amazing as your brain is, it is limited to one thought at a time. That’s good news! The bad news is that you can’t eliminate a thought by telling yourself not to think it. It’s hard to concentrate on the reverse of … Continue reading 40 Day Journey to Joy – Day 19
40 Day Journey to Joy – Day 18
Today, March 17, 2020, the world is shutting down in an attempt to contain COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel Corona Virus. (I include that description for anyone who may have been under a rock for the last few weeks or who is reading this in the future when it is a distant memory.) … Continue reading 40 Day Journey to Joy – Day 18
40 Day Journey to Joy – Day 17
Continuing the Journey to Joy. It takes concentration and focus. It also requires a strong desire to change your mindset. Satisfaction with the Status Quo will only result in more of the same. God has been showing me that my thoughts about circumstances and people cause me more misery than the circumstances and people themselves. … Continue reading 40 Day Journey to Joy – Day 17
40 Day Journey to Joy – Day 15
Tommy Newberry has talked about the importance of gratitude on many of the previous days of his book, 40 Days to a Joy-Filled Life, but today it’s a full-on smack down! He gets serious about the lack of a heart of thankfulness in his “Profile of an Ingrate.” He states that ingrates fall into one or more … Continue reading 40 Day Journey to Joy – Day 15
40 Day Journey to Joy – Day 12
On the 12th day of 40 days to a Joy-Filled Life, Tommy Newberry discusses marriage. His major premise in this book and in his other works is what he calls the 4:8 Principle. Based on Philippians 4:8 (NLT), “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. … Continue reading 40 Day Journey to Joy – Day 12
40 Day Journey to Joy – Day 11
It is almost cliché that we should live with an “attitude of gratitude.” Every guru from the New Age to the pulpit of your local church expounds the need to keep a gratitude journal, count your blessings, give God praise for all He has done. At the same time, however, our society urges us to … Continue reading 40 Day Journey to Joy – Day 11
40 Day Journey to Joy – Day 10
It is easy to believe that our thoughts don’t matter much; to put more importance on words and deeds. But Tommy Newberry points out on Day 10 of 40 Days to a Joy-Filled Life that, “Minute by minute, hour by hour, in the hidden workshop of your mind, you are constructing thoughts of good or … Continue reading 40 Day Journey to Joy – Day 10
40 Day Journey to Joy – Day 9
Today’s task is to take a vacation from yourself—at least from the negative critical parts of yourself. Get away from judgmental thoughts, conversations about your health problems, gossip. Spend some time in the peaceful place God has promised when we give Him all our worries and thank Him for all He has done. This will … Continue reading 40 Day Journey to Joy – Day 9
40 Day Journey to Joy – Day 8
Tommy Newberry’s first statement on Day 8 of 40 Days to a Joy-Filled Life is, “You are a beautiful, wonderful child of God!” Why do most of us struggle to agree with this assessment? Why does it hit us so hard each time its truth lands a punch, leaving us in tears as its revelation … Continue reading 40 Day Journey to Joy – Day 8