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 Psalm 107 offers us 4 individual types: the wanderer, prisoner, rebel, and average Jo or Jane.
By their own devices and choices or by the hand of God, they experience trial, hardship, and in some cases agony to the point of death and apparent destruction. Curiously, each class of people do the same thing for relief: they cry out to God for deliverance, help, or to save them in their distress. The psalmist repeatedly admonishes them to "give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind." This psalm written so many years ago is powerfully applicable to us 21st century Christians. Where do you find yourself? Click READ MORE for a more in-depth look at who you might be.  l know that patience is a virtue. Yet, there are degrees of waiting.
I mean--waiting in line is one thing. Waiting for healing is quite another. Watching the clock for a kid to come home is one thing. Waiting for his salvation is another. Holding on the phone is one thing. Waiting for God to "rescue" us from an ongoing, sticky situation a different ballgame. In Psalm 6, David eloquently describes himself as he waits. He feels faint. His bones ache and his eyes are weak and failing. His soul is anguished. He's worn out with groaning and crying all day long. Ever been there? Science tells us that there's a key to long-suffering and endurance. Click READ MORE to unlock the key and to see a special excerpt from the Choose 2 Think devotional. Wanna go right to the Choose 2 Think Inspirational Podcast episode about Psalm 6, click the tab below. Got Joy? Keep Doing These 3 Things to Walk in Contentment & Avoid the Comparison Trap (Psalm 73)1/13/2022
 We all desire internal joy, happiness, and peace.
Yet despite our best intentions and strongest longings...these mindsets and emotions seem to evade us, especially when life gets sticky and the trials pile up. In Psalm 73, the songwriter encourages us to ditch the toxic thinking stemming from comparing our lot in life to those of others, especially those who have not made God their King and who discount His favor. To hear all the details, click Listen Now or Read More for a sneak peak into these 3 action items.  Have you ever felt stuck? Frustrated? At wit's end?
Yeah, me, too. This weekend, I got "stuck" in a bit of striving--I forgot to ask God what He thought, where He wanted me to spend my time and energy--and my otherwise aimless wandering left me spinning my wheels and feeling a bit frustrated and overwhelmed. I couldn't believe how much time I invested trying to figure out how to complete 2 ministry tasks--and with no success! GRRR.... I think God gently reminded me that the idea was for me to FOLLOW. From small decisions and initiatives to the really big ones, He has my back. Even in the daily tasks and mundane chores, He has a plan for me and my time. I discovered something so profound in my angst....  Some scientists say that we have about 60k thoughts daily. Others say it's waaaaay less, more like 6k.
And of these thoughts, the National Science Foundation postulated that 80% are negative and 95% repetitive (2005 study). Another study in that same year from Cornell suggested that 97% of our worries are actually unfounded. Since I'm in the Choose 2 Think business, this information is quite fascinating to me. Why? Because our thoughts literally affect our brains. And if I'm having a gazillion negative thoughts daily and I'm repeating them, well, that's a recipe for one very weary, dissatisfied, and downtrodden noggin. So what's a feller to do? |
