Drops of Sunshine - Daily Bread

Our minds our busy and it takes no time at all for us to be sucked into the portal of negative thoughts. Especially with so many things happening in the world. This is why we need to be intentional with our thinking and even our prayer. Start replacing some of those negatives with a positive and allow peace to blossom in your life.

 I used to spend morning commutes to work griping about everything that seemed like it was wrong at my place of work. When I shifted my perspective and devoted that time to prayer instead, I came to understand the importance of a positive mindset a little more. If I desire the positive fruit, then I can't allow negativity to take root and settle in.

For many, believing is in the seeing. But for someone choosing to live a life of faith, it's the opposite. My faith compels me to believe in and for things I haven't see yet. That also gives me hope. Maintaining that mindset allows every tomorrow to overflow with even more expectation than my today.

 Famed former pro-hockey player Wayne Gretzky is quoted as saying, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." I think about this in terms in gaps in my understanding. We have a tendency to say that if we don't ask the question, we won't know the answer. Jesus' words also reveal that there is nothing God wants to hide from his children. So godly wisdom is ready and waiting. All we have to do is ask. 

I remember the carefree days of youth where questions were never to be feared. The older I got, the more experiences I had with people, self included, who were afraid of the answers we'd get. So afraid, that we didn't even both asking the question. God shows us the importance of tapping into him with a "no wrong questions" mindset. Whatever I need, my first step is to seek Him.

As a child in school, the concept of being different was foreign. No one wanted to be different or unique. It would make us stand out and probably be picked on. The "in crowd" is where you wanted to be. Years of acquired wisdom later, I know there is so much to treasure about being uniquely us. God didn't make us to be clones of one another. Yet, even with all of our differences, he loves each of us. That's the "in crowd" I want to be a part of.

The things that are precious and dear to us are invaluable. We simply can't place a price tag on their value. When we find ourselves struggling with our self-worth, remember that God's love for us is unmatched. There is no one who would ever love us more than God himself. He desires so much good for us and we have to reach a point where all we want to delight in is his goodness.

Our bodies do a pretty good job of telling us what is not good for us. If pork products have a negative impact on your blood pressure, then you make wiser choices, right? Or at least you should. We should apply that same wisdom to spiritual food and pay close attention to what God is telling us. I don't want to whet my appetite with a little of this and a little of that. Instead, I want to be well nourished which means I need to make wiser choices about what I feed my spirit.

 Sometimes, we can be our own worst critic. We are quick to point out our own flaws, but will easily forgive the same shortcomings in someone else. So, we need to take out the time to remind ourselves that even with all our flaws and imperfections, God loves us. We need to do the same.

As a kid, I can recall how gratifying it always was not to be the last one that was chosen when we'd choose teams for sport or a game. We would feel horrible if we weren't picked right away and would get even more nervous as the numbers dwindled down. If we were picked last, it always felt like we weren't really wanted, but the team was forced to accept us. We should be exceedingly glad that even if we are "last", we are never unwanted in God's eyes.

 When there is something we don't want to hear, we are quick to tune it out. Thank God that he doesn't do that to us. His station is always tuned in to us. With that in mind, we should be even more eager to communicate with him each day. Afterall, we also appreciate having undivided attention. So be more sincere about giving yours to God.

 One thing we've all heard some iteration of or even encountered is the rise of AI. There is also increased spam and scam calls, some of who utilize that technology for sinister purposes. It becomes even more important to know and readily identify what is real. The same applies for us in the spirit and with our faith. If we've neglected our relationship with God, then it will be more difficult to distinguish his voice from those that are imitating and deceiving.

 Every part of us has purpose. It makes sense that we are being mindful what we allow to enter in our gateways, such as our ears. If I'm taking in nonsense, then that's what I'm going to pour out. We must be intentional on a daily basis to hear from God and to pay close attention to what he says to us.

 We're advised in the scriptures about the importance of obedience. It's one thing to receive directives. But when we learn the right thing to do and make morally positive choices, it should be discomforting to do anything contrary. It is a more peaceable way of life.

 Our ears are useful tools that allow us to take in and begin to process the information we hear. When it comes to listening for God's voice, it requires tuning in every part of me, not just my ears. That way, when I do hear his voice, I can be quick to heed the direction.

When we are faced with uncertainties, we often seek after those with wisdom. Someone who lived our experience or someone we know wants the best for us. God desires the good for us. Whenever we find ourselves faced with difficulty or situations we may not understand, we can ask him for direction. 

 In the television show Star Trek, Spock was quick to note if anything defied logic. To our human mind, faith falls into the category of the illogical. Yet, for generations, God continues to prove that when we are faced with things that seem illogical or even impossible, it's his wisdom and clarity we should desire in those moments.

Our appetite craves what we feed it. If I binge sugary sweets every day, then every day, I'm going to want more sugary sweets. Likewise, if we aren't feeding our spirit the things of God, then the desire for it is less likely to surface. Be intentional every day about seeing God in your life and be even more determined to see his purpose for you. 

 It would be a disservice to assume we know everything there is to know about anything. By embracing each new day with a mindset of gaining new insights, we can understand the ways of God in a greater way than we did yesterday. But we have to sit aside our own understanding and lean into Him. 

We can take comfort in God's omniscience. Rather than pour all our resources into trying to figure things out, embrace the truth that God already has the solution. Instead, we can trust his vision and his purpose and ask him to direct our path.