Do You Recognize It?

Do You Recognize It? TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3, NIV. TODAY'S WORD: When something good happens, do you recognize that it’s God at work? Right away, that’s when you need to thank Him for it. Make sure you give Him the credit. Some people don’t think that God is doing anything in their lives. But I’m convinced that God is constantly showing us His goodness. My question is: Are you recognizing it? Are you thanking Him for His goodness? This week, look around. Be more aware of His goodness. Scripture says, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.” If you’re going to taste God’s goodness, you have to realize that every good break, every time you were protected, every door that opened, every advantage that you’ve had is God working in your life. Don’t take it for granted. Recognize Him and thank Him for His goodness and faithfulness all the days of your life! PRAYER FOR TODAY: Father, today I am on the lookout for Your goodness. I honor and thank You for Your love. I praise You because You are faithful and glorify You in everything I do in Jesus’ name. Amen. PS... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fo1UV9pfrs

Focus on Your Purpose, Not Your Problem

BY RICK WARREN — JUNE 1, 2014

“If by continuing to live I can do more worthwhile work, then I am not sure which I should choose. I am pulled in two directions. I want very much to leave this life and be with Christ, which is a far better thing; but for your sake it is much more important that I remain alive. I am sure of this, and so I know that I will stay. I will stay on with you all, to add to your progress and your joy in the faith.” (Philippians 1:22-25 TEV)

When you stay focused on your purpose, not your problem, you can be happy even when life seems to be falling apart.

Paul was an old man when he was in prison in Rome. He was a long way from home. He was awaiting execution. Everything has been taken from him — his friends, his freedom, his ministry, even his privacy, with a guard chained to him 24 hours a day. It wasn’t exactly a happy time for Paul.

But there was one thing they could not take away from Paul: his purpose. Paul made the choice to stay focused on his purpose, even when he had lost everything else. What was his purpose? Serving God by serving others.

Paul says in Philippians 1:22-25, “If by continuing to live I can do more worthwhile work, then I am not sure which I should choose. I am pulled in two directions. I want very much to leave this life and be with Christ, which is a far better thing; but for your sake it is much more important that I remain alive. I am sure of this, and so I know that I will stay. I will stay on with you all, to add to your progress and your joy in the faith” (TEV).

I’ll never forget reading Viktor Frankl’s book “Man’s Search for Meaning.” Frankl was a Jewish psychiatrist who was taken to one of the death camps in Nazi Germany. All of his family and all of his friends were gassed and murdered. He talks in his book about one day when he stood in front of the Gestapo stark naked. They’d taken away the prisoners’ clothes and even Frankl’s wedding ring. He stood there with nothing at all when he suddenly realized there was one thing the Nazis could not take away from him: his choice in how he would respond.

You cannot control what other people do to you. You cannot control what other people do around you. But you can control how you respond.

Talk It Over

• What do you believe is your purpose in life?
• How does your response to a difficult situation change when you realize that how you respond is your choice?
• What distractions or influences are keeping you focused on your problem and not your purpose?