Staying Positive

Read: Various Scriptures Listed Below

My wife is always great at helping me to see the positive side of things.  The other day we were on a walk and I commented about how uneven and patchy the grass grows at the beginning of each spring.  She then said, “I just love to see the green grass after a long cold winter.” If ever there was a time to stay positive it is right now.  When the announcement was made this week that we would continue to “shelter in place” until the end of April it made us all think about the long road ahead. 

This has been such a disruption to everything we once knew to be normal.  We know it will pass and we know that better days are ahead but how do we stay positive during this next month?  Some suggestions I have seen in various articles suggest to get up at your normal time each morning, take a shower, make your bed, and put on your clothes as if you were going out to work for the day or going to the grocery store.  This will get your blood flowing and allow you to have a more healthy perspective on the day ahead. Others encourage us to get outside on nice days and find ways to reach out to others through phone calls, cards, face to face chats online.

I agree with all of those suggestions.  I would also encourage daily devotions and prayer as well.  Here are some wonderful passages of scripture from God’s Word to read and reflect on.  Look these up and use them to help you focus on the good and positive on days that might not always feel that way.

Philippians 4:8; Colossians 3:1-2; Psalm 19:14; Philippians 2:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-21;  Ephesians 6:18; Proverbs 17:22; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Proverbs 17:22; Philippians 2:5-1; Proverbs 23:18;  Nahum 1:7; Hebrews 11:1. May God’s Word keep you positive and hopeful.

Make it Personal:  Be the positive person that you need to be during this time for yourself, your family, and others.  Rely on the Lord to see you through this time of change, unfamiliarity, challenge, and frustration. As you look at the green grass this spring just focus on the good things in life and stay positive.  I am going to try to do better myself.

Have a blessed and safe week,  Pastor Glen Rhodes