Friday... There's encouragement in talking to yourself.

Friday... There's encouragement in talking to yourself. There really is.

Psalm 116:7-8 (MSG) says, "I said to myself, 'Relax and rest. God has showered you with blessings." Sometimes we just need to stop and remind ourselves of what God has done for us. He goes on, "Soul, you've been rescued from death; Eye, you've been rescued from tears; And you, Foot, were kept from stumbling."

A change of focus can make such a difference. He goes on in verse 9, "I'm stridding in the presence of God." I like that, "I'm striding in the presence of God." The Amplified Bible says, "I will walk [in submissive wonder] before the Lord." And the NIRV says, "So now I can enjoy life here with you." A change of focus can make such a difference. It really can.

Then verses 10-11 (MSG), "I stayed faithful, though overwhelmed, and despite a ton of bad luck, despite giving up on the human race, saying, ' 'They're all liars and cheats" ' " All of that may be true but we don't stay there in our focus. "Relax and rest. God has showered you with blessings" and that is also true. Your focus can make such a difference.

Maybe we need some encouragement today by talking to ourselves.

And then verses 12-14 (NLT), "What can I offer the Lord for all he has done for me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and praise the Lord for saving me. I will keep my promises to the Lord in the presence of all his people."

And we need to do that especially during difficult times. There is encouragement in thanking God for all He has and is and will do for us. Maybe we need to stop and encourage ourselves right now with some remembering and as verse 17 says, "I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord." Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

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Tuesday... It is so worth it. It really is!

Tuesday... It is so worth it. It really is! Look at this, Proverbs 5:21-23 (CEV) says, "The Lord sees everything, and he watches us closely. Sinners are trapped and caught by their own evil deeds. They get lost and die because of their foolishness and lack of self-control." That is true of so many. Now look at this, Luke 15:1-7 says, "Tax collectors and sinners were all crowding around to listen to Jesus. So the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses started grumbling, 'This man is friendly with sinners. He even eats with them.' Then Jesus told them this story: If any of you has 100 sheep, and one of them gets lost, what will you do? Won't you leave the 99 in the field and go look for the lost sheep until you find it? And when you find it, you will put it on your shoulder and carry it home. Then you will call in your friends and neighbors and say, 'Let's celebrate! I've found my lost sheep.' Jesus said, 'In the same way there is mo...

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Todays Beginning

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