when challenges come...

Thursday, August 18th
When challenges come …

“Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.”           1 Thessalonians 5:16-18(MSG)

Our opening scripture shows you the appropriate attitude when you are going through challenges. Be cheerful. Maintain your joy and be thankful. Do not let your challenges depress you; know that it will turn out for your good.

When you are going through challenges, never focus on the problem or the challenge, focus on God. This is important because whatever you are focusing on is what will determine your attitude. If you focus on your problem you will be complaining and ungrateful. But when you focus on God and His ability in difficult times, all you will see is your victory.

When Jesus had the challenge of feeding the multitudes in Matthew 14:15-21, he did not focus on the resource that was available to him (five loaves of bread and two fish). The Bible says in Matthew 14:19(GNB), “He ordered the people to sit down on the grass; then he took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, and gave thanks to God.

He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.” His attitude and response to His challenge was thanksgiving and Matthew 14:20(GNB) shows us the result; “Everyone ate and had enough. Then the disciples took up twelve baskets full of what was left over.”

Confession.
In the Name of Jesus, I declare that I have victory in Christ. All things are working together for my good. I choose to be cheerful no matter what; I will thank God no matter what happens, because this is the way God wants me to live. Amen.

For further study, read:
Matthew 5:11-12, Philippians 4:4, James 1:2-4.

Doing the Word
Be cheerful. Maintain your joy and be thankful.