By Lois Hewitt

This morning I woke up, said a prayer and rolled out of bed.  The very first thing I told myself was that I was tired.

Then I looked in the mirror and I said to myself that I look old.

Then on the way to the kitchen I told myself how bad I feel.

At that moment, the reality hit me.  Those things I say to myself are the words that form my attitude. They become who I am.

So what if I say I’m energized instead of tired?  I’m not bad for my age instead of old looking.  How about I feel pretty good instead of feeling sick?

My brain automatically followed suit.  I felt better.  I moved better.  The face? Still old but it’s a privilege not a burden.

I’ve been not well for months and I’m done. I can’t stand hearing my inner voice tell me how tired I am all the time.

It’s like all the negativity all around us in the world today.  It’s literally everywhere. God does not want us to live under a dark cloud. That’s certainly not why He endured the horrors of the cross.  So we can be defeated…no way.

He endured the cross to give us victory over sin.  Negative self-talk is a form of sin.  We have been given a gift we could never earn and yet it’s so easy to cast it aside.

Please do not misunderstand me, I’m not saying that ridding your mind of the negative things will supernaturally fix all ills.  It won’t. But looking at Jesus rather than at ourselves can change our perspective.

Trusting that He has a plan that is much bigger than my life helps me out of “woe is me” mode. 

Trusting that He has a plan that is much bigger than my life helps me not to fear the unknowns or what’s coming.

Trusting that He has a plan that is much bigger than my life redirects my negative thoughts to thoughts more in alignment with His.

Read His Word!  Jesus is the Victor. All who believe in Him will know victory.  I know it’s hard to understand and it’s really hard to wait.  But placing your faith in Him, opens up a whole new life full of possibilities.

I have spent way too many years tired, sick, remorseful, full of anxiety and depressed.  The negativity always seemed to envelope me.  I had no victory because I did not understand His gift.

He takes me heavy burdens and gives me rest.  He takes my fears and gives me peace.  He takes my sadness and gives me purpose.  He takes all the bad and gives me goodness and light.

Some days are easier than others. Today I realized my part in all of this…not to get caught up in the darkness of life.  There is plenty to see but today I pray for the light. Today I pray for His peace. I pray for that for you also.

Jesus can save your life from sin, that’s the reason for His shed blood on the cross.  Forgiveness and salvation.  But He also wants us to have victory over darkness. What an awesome God we serve.

Talk to Him today. He will meet you were you are.  He is real, not a fairy tale.  He just wants us to seek Him and believe. He is my everything. I pray He becomes that for you too.