Optimism In Life

Optimism – or your lack of it, shapes your entire life. If you lack hope and faith, your actions will reflect this lacklustre attitude. Others will not buy into your dreams and plans because they are not convinced that you will succeed, taking their cue from you. Heartfelt optimism, on the other hand, is magnetic: the stronger you feel it, the more powerful its pull.

You’ll find it easier to attract the right people and opportunities to you. Life will be easier. The trick is to build deep down optimism that exudes a genuine conviction to those around you. The challenge is to believe in the inevitability of your own success

And, as life is one great big self-fulfilling prophesy, keeping optimistic makes a lot of sense. As Winston said, "it does not seem too much use being anything else."

Would you consider yourself to be a positive or a negative person? Do you tend to see the glass as half empty or half full? Are you an optimist or a pessimist? Did you know that God has called all followers of Christ to be optimists? Yes, it's true. The Bible says, "Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things."-Philippians 4:8

Optimism has to come from God. I'm an optimist because I believe in God and His word, "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!" You know what he meant; there is so much good that can happen, that will happen, and is happening to change our world swiftly and beautifully. Optimism generates hope...Hope releases dreams...Dreams set goals...Enthusiasm follows! Then energy and health become a natural lifestyle.

I am an optimist because I believe in God's Presence! God is real and He is all around us. We experience His presence all the time, only we take it for granted too often and we don't call it "God."

I am an optimist, because I believe God has a beautiful plan that includes me and you. God knew exactly where He wanted you to be placed" And so He puts us in places and positions that we can't even imagine today. Give God time and watch Him move. Give God an opportunity to have His way with you.

I am an optimist because I believe in possibilities all around me. Our problem is we don't see the possibilities or we turn them down because of an inferiority complex. All we need is the faith and the vision to see the possibilities all around us.

I am an optimist because I believe in God's providence. He is Jehovah Jireh. His mercies are new every morning.

I am an optimist because I believe in God's pardon. I believe the worst feeling for me is when I have sinned and am guilty. But I am an optimist, because I don't have to worry about the worst news. I am pardoned. I am saved. I have the presence of Christ in my life.

Optimism is wholeness and health. And you cannot be an optimist if you cut yourself off from a belief in a beautiful God who gives us eternal life.

Protect Your Marital Relationship

Men and women were designed to be together, to need each other. Marriage, a natural union of a man and a woman, is divinely ordained. It is the foundation of the family, which in turn stands as the foundation and most important building block of society.

As children grow old enough to shoulder the responsibilities of a family and come to love and honor someone of the opposite sex, it is natural and proper for them to marry – be joined together – and create their own family apart from their parents. Only then should they “become one flesh” by physically uniting in a sexual relationship.

God has intended that marriage and sex – in that order – exist as tremendous blessings to humanity. Their potential for good is boundless. However, the same desires that attract us to members of the opposite sex can post risks unless they are channeled exclusively toward a loving marriage relationship. The temptation to engage in sexual immorality can easily overpower our self-control resulting in adultery.

Adultery is the violation of the marriage covenant by willful participation in sexual activity with someone other than one’s spouse. No sexual relationship of any sort should occur outside marriage.

Sexual relationship within marriage is pleasurable and stable and something for us to enjoy. It is this capacity to convey appreciation, tenderness, devotion and love for our spouse. It can add immeasurably to our sense of well-being and contentment.

Immorality in any form is destructive. “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body” (1 Corinthians 6:18). These warnings apply equally to men and women because “God shows no partiality”.

Consider the disastrous effects of the sexual revolution, sexually transmissible diseases (STDs), AIDS which take a frightening toll in lives. Broken homes are the main consequences of sexual immorality and shattered marriages resulting from sexual infidelity..

Divorce makes even deeper personal problems. Custody fights go on for years and children are affected. The home could not provide any warm, comfort and security that builds confidence and hope. Lack of hope contributes to the increase in the number of suicides and accidents.

Lust is the beginning of adultery and immorality. Our actions originate in our thoughts, in the desires that float through our minds. Make no mistake. Opportunities to sin will come. We must control our sensual desires by replacing them with an unselfish concern for others.

Faithfulness is the key to stability in marriage. This in turn will result in great companionship. We need someone special who an share our ups and downs, triumphs and failures. No one can fill this role like a mate who shares with us a deep love and commitment.

Walking Through the Valleys of Life

In this life, we face trials & tribulations. We are constantly exposed to a range of strains and stresses. However, we can learn from several strategies to lesson the load:

1. Learn from trials and suffering. They can help us learn new skills. Learning is done best through difficult circumstances and experiences.
2. Count your blessings. When we focus on pain, we often forget how good life has been to us. Paul said we should always be thankful (Phil 4:6). The results of giving thanks is always a “peace which surpasses all understanding” (Verse 7).
3. Don’t be a prisoner of your suffering. Severe trials can cause emotional paralysis. We need to remain active because inactivity further devastates morale. Look for activities that will keep you engaged, either mentally or physically.
4. Find someone with whom you can share your load. Many people undergoing severe trials make the mistake of trying to handle them alone. We need human contact. “Two are better than one….But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)
5. Break the trial into bite=sized bits. When your difficulty or workload is daunting, divide it into manageable chores.
6. Take life one day at a time. People battling depression, emotional struggles and difficulties in general often share a self=defeating mind-set. Their emotions tell them their trial will never end. We need to adopt an attitude that realizes that this trial, too, shall pass – as most difficulties do. Adopt the psalmist’s perspective: “This is the day which the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Pslam 118:24).
7. Don’t be frustrated by trifling issues. Learn to put minor problems behind you and make decisions of lesser importance with a minimum of stress and worry.
8. Eat a balanced, nourishing diet. Our bodied and minds are much less able to deal with stress and difficulties if we do not provide them with the necessary nutrients.
9. Exercise regularly. Proper exercise relieves stress, provides a feeling of well-being and helps us sleep better – all of which are important for our contentment and mental stability.
10. Provide yourself with regular rest and relaxation. God commanded that we rest every week on the Sabbath day. We also need relaxing time on a daily basis.
11. Develop a sense of humor. “A cheerful heart is good medicine (Proverbs 17:22). Humor helps us rise above stresses. Laughter truly is effective medicine.
12. Realize that ultimately all things are in God’s able hands. David urges us to “commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him..” (Psalm 37:5).