It can be difficult to have a good attitude when things just aren’t going according to our plans. That’s why how to watch your words and thoughts is so important!
We want things our own way. We think we have things all figured out and if everyone got on the same plan (our plan), life would be so much better.
But life never goes according to our plans, because we have nearly eight billion other individuals with their own ideas of how things should be. Some of their plans are as legitimate as ours. Some of them are evil (and yes, you’ll have disagreements about what is and isn’t evil). Some may have nice, if not naïve plans. And yes, some have plans to survive what we may find unimaginable.
Then there are the plans an omniscient God has. We can’t understand why His plans wouldn’t be exactly the same as our own. And we can’t understand when tragedy and frustrations come our way. What should we do when things just don’t go the way we would like them to?
Psalm 19:14
I have found Psalm 19:14 to be so helpful when I consider how I should think and speak in such a chaotic world.
“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”
Psalm 19:14 (KJV)
Keep our thoughts and words positive. It is critical to remember we don’t see the whole picture. Things may not be the way we want them now, but hang on. Everything will work out in the end. It never does any good to become bitter.
Help someone else out. Whenever we get self-focused, we get miserable. Have you ever noticed the most selfish people are the most miserable? The reason being self-centered will bring them happiness when the opposite happens? When we focus on helping others, we end up helping ourselves.
Watch our words. When we talk of the future as if nothing but bad will happen, we end up creating the very things we don’t want. Have faith the future will be brighter. It is worth it to bring words of encouragement into your own life.
Our words, thoughts, and actions matter. We matter. You matter! Things may not be the way you would want them to be right now, but hang on, help others, and bring words of hope and peace into your life today.
Editor’s Note: I originally published this blog on October 6, 2015. I revamped and updated it for timeliness and comprehensiveness.
