Do you know anyone who sucks the life out of the room?!
Have you gotten to a place like that?
- What does it take for you to go dark in your head?
- How long do you get stuck there?
- What does it take for you to come out of that?
According to Journal of American Medical Assoc, 52.4% of Americans now show mild to severe symptoms of depression (3x what it was before Pandemic).
- That means half of you may be going to dark, unhappy places in your head
Today, I want to help you replace the negativity in your life with something healthier
- We all drift towards division, conflict and obsession with our our perception
- I want to give you something else to focus on
[Philippians 2:14-15]
“Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.”
YOUR ATTITUDE IS YOUR CHOICE
- When I become cynical, self-absorbed, and negative, I revert to my old self
- I pull myself out of the game. I choose to sit on the bench of the game God is playing to rescue everyone around me
- I’m not acting without regard to others and am not longer living as a “child of God”
- I’m simply acting like everyone else
- That’s why Paul says to live cleaner. To live a more innocent life
[Philippians 2:16-17]
“Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy.”
YOUR JOY COMES FROM A CHOICE
[2 Corinthians 4:17-18]
“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”
YOUR CHOICE IS A REFLECTION OF YOUR HEART
Your ability to change the way you look at your situation is a spiritual discipline that will mature your faith and increase your impact in the world.
You are NOT a victim in this world, you are an OVERCOMER!
YOU ARE A CONDUIT OF GOD IN THIS WORLD!
[Matthew 5:16]
“In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
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Application Questions
1. What stood out to you from this message and why?
2. What is one thing God is telling you to START doing because of this message?
3. What is one thing God is telling you to STOP doing because of this message?
4. How will this message change how you act at home, work and in the your relationships?