Be Kind To Yourself

 

Something I've realized over the years is that we often tend to be

our own worse self-depretiating critics. We can tend to be the harshest on ourselves and sometimes we need to cut ourselves a break! If you read one of my

previous posts on fighting the "ANTs" with "TNT" then you already know that our brain tends to automatically generate negative thoughts--something Doctor Daniel Amen refers to in his book, Change Your Brain, Change Your Life, as "Automatic Negative Thoughts" or, "ANTs." I like to combat those negative thoughts with something I refer to as, "Transformative New Thoughts"--the kind of thinking that has powerful, transformative implications on you and the way you live!

 In Karen Salmansohn's book "Instant Happy: 10 Second Attitude Makeovers" she challenges us to "talk to yourself the way you'd talk to someone you love." I bet you'd start being a lot nicer to yourself and ignoring those negative "ANTs" if you imagined you were talking to a loved one and not just yourself! This week I challenge you to tell yourself one nice compliment each day, and whenever you get a negative thought and start feeling down on yourself, to combat that with a positive thought about yourself in it's place.If you need help reminding yourself of how awesome and amazing you are, then you can always refer to the Biblical affirmations I compiled at the end of this post (click here) to remind yourself of who God says you are and how wonderful He thinks you are!

Have a great week everyone! :)

 

Photo is from Karen Salmansohn's "Instant Happy: 10 Second Attitude Makeovers"

For more info on Transformational New Thinking you can read TNT: TeeNage Transformation--Explosive Ideas that Will Blow Your Mind and Change Your Life Forever

 

Fight the "ANT's" With "TNT!"

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12

 

Spiritual warfare is a part of life that all people should be aware of, especially if you are a Christian. The Bible tells us that there are powers at work that are constantly trying to bring us down and cause us harm. Now, as scary or bizarre as that may sound to some of you, there is good news--there is also a power at work so much stronger and greater that is fighting for us on our behalf, and that is far greater than any force of darkness positioned against us.

Spiritual warfare is a battle of the mind.

In the Bible we are told that it is the enemy's goal is to cause as much harm to humanity because he is jealous that God would so lovingly call humans His children and be willing to die for them. The attempted harm starts by an attack on our thoughts through getting us to believe things about ourselves or our lives which are simply not true. You see, spiritual warfare begins in the mind. The enemy knows that if he can get our thoughts off track by distorting our self-image through feeding us lies, that we will be more prone into giving into self-destructive tendencies and habits. Some of the most common lies the enemy attempts to feed us are things like, "You're not good enough (pretty enough, smart enough, successful enough, etc.)" or "You'll never make it anywhere," or "Nobody likes you, nobody cares, you're just worthless and ugly!" Talk about negative, huh! But surprisingly, we sometimes take those lies our brains feed us and interpret them as true--even when they are not. And our beliefs about ourselves and those around us can have tremendous implications on the way we live, because the way we perceive ourselves is affects all of our actions and decisions.

 

We will be more prone into giving into self-destructive tendencies and habits if our self-image is distorted and our thinking is off-balance.

You don't have to take my word to know what I’m professing is true. Just take a look at the statistics of how many people die each year because of drug overdose, alcohol poisoning, STD's, or suicide. It is clear that there is a force at work attempting to bring harm upon humans; call it our own tendency to have a self-destructive human nature, call it spiritual warfare—but the truth is it exists. And the internal battle we face begins with what beliefs we allow into our minds.

The battle we face begins with what beliefs we allow into our minds.

If you still aren’t convinced about the battle which occurs in our minds, you can take a look to science as your proof. Dr. Daniel Amen, clinical neuropsychologist, founder of the Amen Clinic, and author of the Best-selling book, Change Your Brain, Change Your Life, explains that that "ANT's" or "Automatic Negative Thoughts" are negative thoughts that our brains have a natural tendency to automatically and systematically generate. The good news, Amen says, is that we can talk back to those negative thoughts and get rid of them by replacing them with positive thoughts instead.

Believing “ANTs” (Automatic Negative Thoughts) makes us prone into giving into self-destructive tendencies and habits.

 

Think of spiritual warfare as tuning into a radio station. There is a positive frequency of truth and goodness, which inspires us to be the best version of ourselves and live life to its fullest. And, there is a negative frequency that feeds us lies and evokes feelings of suffering, sorrow, loss, and inadequacy. This negative station can cause us to choose a path of self-destruction. If we truly believe we are ugly and unlovable, we will go through life searching for love and human approval in places that may lead us down very harmful paths. If we believe that we are unsuccessful, stupid, or a loser, we will live and act in a way that is in accordance with those beliefs. But, if we believe that we have the ability to succeed, triumph over circumstances, that we are loveable, and beautiful in our own way, then we will live a life that is in accordance with success, striving to be the best we can be, and living to our full potential. Are you beginning to see how important our self-beliefs are?

Monitoring what we believe to be true is important, because will live and act in a way that is in accordance with those beliefs. The Bible tells us that, “As a man thinks in his heart, so he becomes” (Proverbs 23:7). Think about what that means for a moment. This Proverb is telling us that what we believe about ourselves, what we hold to be true about ourselves, actually determines what kind of person we become.

This is why the enemy attempts to attack our thoughts more than anything else. If we can buy into the lies that are an attempt to destroy and bring us down, then we are in a vulnerable position. We place ourselves in the position where we will buy into the idea that we need to find fulfillment in temporary, yet highly destructive pleasures like drugs, alcohol, promiscuity, etc.

This is why God’s word wisely instructs to: “Guard your heart, because everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23 NIV). This verse is saying that we must guard what we perceive to be true, because what we perceive to be true affects every single decision we make.

We must guard what we perceive to be true, because what we perceive to be true affects every single decision we make.

The Bible tells us that in order to win the battle, we have to be on guard not to feed into the lies (or “ANT’s”) (1 Peter 5:8), and that we must learn to combat and replace these lies with God's positive truths of who He has created us to be. In fact, the best way to combat the “ANTs” is by fighting them with what I like to call “TNT” or “Transformative New Thoughts!” We are instructed throughout scripture to “Be transformed by the renewing of [our] minds” (Romans 12:2), and that transformation occurs when we renew our minds with the TRUTH of who God has created us to be! Below I’ve included only a few of some “TNT’s” that you can read through, meditate on, and speak ALOUD so that you may affirm to yourself and re-program your mind on what is TRUE! God's word tells us that we his beloved children, that we are beautiful in his sight, that we are his masterpiece in the making! Those are the wonderful terms that our Creator saw fit to label you with! Those are the kinds of thoughts and truths that will help you combat and defeat any negative lies you may face.

Take the time to fill your mind with these positive truths by reminding yourself of who our Creator says you are, re-program your mind onto the truth of how our Savior sees you:

You are a child of God (see 1 Peter 1:23).

You are forgiven of all of your sins and washed clean (Eph. 1:17, 1 John 1:9, Heb. 9:14, Col. 1:14).

You are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

You have been blessed (Gal. 3:9, Deut. 28:2).

You have been set free (John 8:31-33).

You are strong in the Lord (Eph. 6:10).

You are accepted by Christ (Eph. 1:6).

You are blameless in His sight (Eph. 1:4)

You are more than a conqueror In Christ, and overwhelming victory is yours. (Rom. 8:37)

You are loved and forgiven by him (John 3:16, 1 Peter 5:7)

You are His masterpiece and workmanship (Eph. 2:10)

If you’ve found any of what you read helpful or encouraging, or want to read more “TNT’s” you can read more in my book TNT: TeeNage Transformation –ExplosiveIdeas That Will Blow Your Mind And Change Your Life Forever!

Who Are You?

In addition to the tips I gave in the last two posts I've made on finding your purpose and discovering what you have been shaped for, there are a few more tools that have been very helpful in discovering more about who you are and what you are made for! Whether you are a highschool student getting ready to enter college, a college student still debating on majors, or even in the middle of your life looking to regain purpose and passion in your life and work, these personality tests can really help reveal more of who you are and what you are meant to do!

The KTS-II Test is one of my favorites, it's alot of fun to take because it tells you whether you have a temperment of a "Guardian," "Artist," "Idealist," or a "Rationalist." It will analyze your temperment and personality and give you a list of other famous people with that same temperment.
Click here to take the KTS-II test!

Another great test you can take is one that will evaluate your strengths. By evaluating your strengths you can discover what kind of career would allow you to express what you do best, every day, while you get paid. Click here to take the strength assessment test.

Another really great test determines whether you are more introverted vs. extroverted, intuitive vs. sensing, feeler over a thinker, or a "judger" rather than "perciever." The test also gives you possible career options and in depth explaination about your results. Click here to take the test!

I hope you found this post meaningful, helpful, and maybe even a little fun! After all, what's more exciting than discovering more about ourselves? ;-)

Feel free to comment below sharing your results! I'm an idealist with an ENFJ personality and strengths in language, intrapersonal skills, and extrapersonal skills. What about you? :-)

Finding Your Shape and Fulfilling Your God-Given Dreams

 “Everybody is a genius. But, if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it’ll spend its whole life believing that it is stupid.” – Albert Einstein

In the animal kingdom, it is clear that each animal has a different purpose. Horses are for transportation, dogs and cats are house pets meant to bring us joy, monkeys are meant to climbs trees, and fishes are meant to swim. Now imagine what would happen if you made any of these animals act out of accordance with what they were made for. It just wouldn’t work or make sense to use penguins to pull sleighs or elephants to climb trees—yet so often is seems that is what our society has conditioned people to do—to act out of accordance with what they were purposed and shaped for. 

We have standardized tests and mandatory classes that don’t fit everyone’s shape and can often make us feel like we’re trying to fit a square peg in a round hole! It just doesn’t feel right.

When I first exited high school, I took a year off to work on my book that I felt very strongly and passionately about. To many people, that may seem unorthodox, unusual, or maybe even irresponsible, but I knew it was what I was meant to do—it gave me purpose, meaning, and brought my life joy. I know writing is what I’ve been shaped for because it’s what I enjoy doing; it gives me satisfaction and makes me excited about my future. When I read and learn new concepts and ideas and I’m able to share those ideas through writing, I feel “in the zone.” It makes me happy and gives me purpose.

What’s amazing is that we all have a God-given shape and design that allows us to accomplish and fulfill the purpose for which we have been created for. We all have a purpose, and we are all shaped to fulfill a mission in life which will bring us most joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment!

Oprah Winfrey once said, “You've got to follow your passion. You've got to figure out what it is you love –who you really are. And have the courage to do that. I believe that the only courage anybody ever needs is the courage to follow your own dreams.”

So the question then becomes, “What is my shape, purpose, or life mission? What have I been put on this planet to do?” A good way in discovering what your purpose or mission here on earth is to evaluate what it is that you value most. You can do that by asking yourself: “What in my life is most important to me?”

What is it that brings you the most joy and fulfillment? When are the times that you feel most purposeful and fulfilled? What are the times you feel most intelligent and “in-the-game?”

Finding your shape and your God-given purpose can lead you to the life of your dreams. Most people who are unhappy or frustrated with their lives feel that way because they feel stuck in circumstances in which they are not accomplishing their purpose or fulfilling their dreams. You don’t have to live that way! You can live to your full potential and experience life as it was meant to be lived—in its most purposeful, fulfilling, and satisfying way!

Below I’ve included a few more very important questions that can help you even further discover what it is that is most important to you, so that you can begin shaping your life, taking action steps, and acting in a way that will draw you closer to fulfilling your life’s purpose and make life most fulfilling!

·         What takes up your space? What do most of your possessions consist of? Your possessions reveal what is most important to you.

·         How do you spend your time? You always have time for the things which are most important to you.

·         How do you spend your energy? We always have or make energy for things that are most valuable to us.

·         What do you spend most of your money on?

·         Where are you most disciplined and focused?

·         Where are you most organized and ordered?

·         What do you think about most? What do you dream about? What are your innermost dominant thoughts?

·         What is your personal and internal vision? What kind of situations do you visualize, what is your ideal goal or dream in life?

·         What do you talk about most? Pay attention to what you talk about, because it will reveal what is most important to you!

·         What do you emotionally react to? What you feel most passionate about will reveal to you what you value most.
What are your goals?

·         What are you inspired by?

 

Now that you may hopefully have a better understanding of what you value, and what is most important to you, you can begin to take action steps toward accomplishing your goals, fulfilling your shape, and reaching your God-given dreams!

In the words of Henry David Thoreau, I encourage you to, “Go boldly in the direction of your dreams,” and to “live the life you have imagined.”

“At least three times every day take a moment and ask yourself what is really important. Have the wisdom and the courage to build your life around your answer.” -Lee Jampolsky

He Has You Were You Are For a Reason

"And don’t be wishing you were someplace else or with someone else. Where you are right now is God’s place for you." -1 Corinthians 7:17 (MSG)

James 1:2-4 tells us that when we experience difficulties, tempations, and rough times, to react in a way that is contrary to what we naturally would like to do. He writes:“Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete” James 1:2-4

Sometimes we want to rush things in our lives or we become anxious or impatient and feel as if things aren't moving fast enough, or that we aren't where we should be. Let me tell you something, God has you EXACTLY where He wants you to be. If you are feeling discouraged because your life is not how you would like it, take heart knowing that God has you where you are for a reason. Maybe you're in a job you don't like or you feel overqualified for, maybe you can't stand your coworkers or bosses. Maybe you feel like you're in a relationship rut, or stuck in a circumstance that has just seemed to be dragging out for too long. Instead of complaining about how these circumstances could be better, I urge you to start asking what it is that God wants you to learn from this circumstance. You can tell him, "God, I don't know why you have me here, and even though it is uncomfortable, help me to learn what it is that you want me to learn from this situation. Open my eyes to see the work you want me to do here." Ask Him to help you see what you need to learn, and if there is someone He wants you to minister to. Maybe He has you at your job so that you can be an encouragement to someone in desperate need of it. Whatever situation you are in, there is a reason and a purpose. Start asking God for the reason of why He has you where He has you and what you can learn from it, and I guarantee you will begin to see doors open, results happen, and changes for the better begin to occur in your life.

"He has made everything in it's perfect timing." Ecclesiastes 3:11

TNT Quote of the Day

"When you feel like parts of your life are falling apart, it’s because you are in the demolition stage of the re-construction process of your life. God is preparing to build something much better in your life than what was there before.” –Dr. Bruce Bell

“I am making all things new.” -Jesus (Revelation 21:5)

 

 

From TNT: TeeNage Transformation --Explosive Ideas That Will Blow Your Mind and Change Your Life Forever!!

Be Persistant in Prayer

 In the last post I talked about the power of prayer, and the importance of reminding yourself of God's promises when you don't see immediate answers. Today, I want to discuss the importance of being persistant in prayer. One of my favorite verses is one in which Jesus is teaching His disciples how to pray, and to be persistant in prayer. In Luke 11:5-13 He says this:

“Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need."

 How cool is that! Jesus is saying that if you don't get an answer to your prayers, keep persisting, and you will get what you asked for just because of your persistance! He continues on to say,

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

If sinful, imperfect human beings know how to give good things to their children, just imagine how much more God wants to give to you! If you have a child then you know the depth of love that you have for them. You want the very best for them. God is the same way. We are His children, and He wants the very best for each of our lives. Don't get discouraged if you don't see immediate answers to your prayers; keep persisting and you will surely see God's blessings flow into your life!

The Power of Prayer

Sometimes we may get discouraged when we don't see immediate answers to our prayers. We may even feel hopeless or disappointed when it seems as if so much time has passed yet situations which we have prayed for repeatedly, appear to remain the same. It is in these moments that we must remind ourselves that "God works in ways we cannot see." Just because it may appear as if nothing is occuring in the physical realm, does not mean that God isn't working on your behalf in the spiritual realm--or "behind the scenes" of things. Isaiah 59:1 assures us, "The LORD is not too weak to save you, and He is not becoming deaf. He can hear you when you call.”
In situations where there is nothing you can PHYSICALLY do to change circumstances; Pray, and turn to God in the midst of any difficulty. The Bible tells us, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6). In the midst of our difficulties, anxieties, worries, or concerns, we are to pray and plead with God with thanksgiving and gratitude knowing that He will pull through.  Prayer is Powerful and you WILL see an answer. The answer may not come immediatley, but it will come at God's perfect timing. Don't get discouraged if it seems as if your prayers are not being answered. If you don't see an immediate answer to your prayers, remember the ways in which God answers:
1) Yes, and here's more!
2) Yes, I thought you'd never ask! ("You dont have because you don't ask" -James 4:2)
3) Yes, but wait; my timing is perfect. (Psalm 18:30, Ecclesiastes 3:11)
or 4) No, I love you too much, I have something EVEN BETTER in store for you.

God answers prayers that are in alignment with His will (1 John 5:14). His answers may not always be "yes," but they are always after our best interest. How encouraging is it to know that the God of the Universe is after YOUR BEST INTEREST! He wants the very best for you! So don't get discouraged when it seems as if your prayers are not being answered. Instead, get excited knowing God is doing a whole lot of work "behind the scenes;" and that whatever the outcome may be, it will be for your own good!
Joshua 21:45 tells us, "Not a single one of all the good promises the LORD had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything He had spoken came true." We can trust that God's promises towards us are true. History and experience confirm it. So when you feel discouraged because your prayers don't seem to be answered, remind yourself of the ways in which God answers, and the promises He has made us about prayer: "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, He hears us." -1 John 5:14

Below are some really awesome and encouraging verses on the power of prayer that you can meditate on to remind yourself the power God has to answer your prayers.

"We know he hears us when we make our requests." -1 John 5:15

"I cried out to the LORD, and he answered me." -Psalm 3:4

"Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I." -Isaiah 58:9


 "Ask, and it will be given to you seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."
-Matthew 7:7

"And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” -Matthew 21:22

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." -Mark 11:24 

"Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it." -John 14:13-14

 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:6-7

Handling Rejection

“When I go someplace and the people don’t receive and accept me, I don’t let it get me down, I just shake it off and go on about my business.” –Luke 10:10-11


We've all experienced rejection at some point in our life or another. It could be that job we didn't get, that car or home we didn't qualify for, that crush or person that didn't like us, or even a family member or close friend who decided to alienate themselves from us. We've all experienced rejection, but how we handle it could be the difference between a life-long chain of bitterness and resentment, or joy and forgiveness. I once heard someone say, “Rejection is God's protection." As funny or cliché as that may sound, it's true. There are many times in life in which God does not give us what we ask for or what we want because what He has in store for us is so much better. He doesn't want us to settle for any less than what He has planned for us, yet we often do settle out of fear that God's plan may not be what we want or like. Rejection doesn’t always have to be a bad thing either. Sometimes when we experience rejection (for example, from a job) it motivates us to improve and become better. Whenever we experience rejection in our lives, we need to recognize and remind ourselves that as one door closes, another opens. God may allow a certain door to a relationship, job, etc. to close in your life, but it only means it's because there is a better one about to be opened. When it comes to handling rejection in a healthy manner, it is crucial to remind ourselves of God's word and promises. His word tells us that He will never, ever reject or leave us (John 6:37, Deuteronomy 31:6), that He accepts us, and that He has chosen us to be His own (John 15:16, Isaiah 41:9). His word tells us that are His creation whom He loves and will never stop loving (John 3:16, Romans 8:38). Any time you feel bitterness or resentment over a rejection that you've experienced, it is so important to remind yourself of these truths of who God made you to be, and the love and acceptance that He has for you. Know that God loves and accepts you just the way you are. Below I've incorporated some scriptures on rejection and God's acceptance that can help you remember these truths of the love and acceptance that God has for you.
In Isaiah 41:9 God says, “I have chosen you and have not rejected you.” He loves you for who you are, He has a plan and purpose for your life, and if you turn to Him know that He will never, never reject you--He loves you too much!

“He will never leave you nor forsake you.” -Deuteronomy 31:6-8

“Whoever comes to me I will never cast out, reject, or drive away.” -John 6:37

“If God is for me than who can be against me?” -Romans 8:31

“The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need.” -Psalm 23:1

“The LORD will not reject his people; he will not abandon his special possession.” -Psalm 94:14

“He never rejects me, but has promised to be with me everywhere I go, always.” -Joshua 1:9, Matthew 28:20

“God has chosen you.”-John 15:16

Humility Precedes Honor

In the last post I discussed the fact that sometimes we are in certain circumstances we may not always find enjoyable, yet which are crucial to our spiritual and emotional growth and are a part of the process of becoming who God created us to be. I wanted to share with you some stories of great men, who did not necissarily start out so great. God allowed each of these people to have extremely humble beginnings so that He could prepare them for all the greatness He had in store for each of them.
One of them is the story of King David. David began his work as a humble shepherd, but God ended up placing Him to be a great warrior, protector, and King over all of Israel!
Moses is another, who came from a bloodline of slavery and even killed a man. Despite Moses' shortcomings, (and his extreme fear of public speaking!), God spoke through Moses and used Him to lead an entire nation of people who had been enslaved for hundreds of generations to finally be set free and released from slavery!
Another great story of humble beginnings is the one of Joseph. Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers, thrown into jail for a crime he did not commit, but then raised up and blessed by God to be put second in command in all of Egypt (just one step below the Pharoah!).
I'm sure none of these men "enjoyed" being humbled while it was happening, but God was doing a work in them to prepare them for the wonderful future He had in store for them. So, my encouragement to you today is to know that whatever your circumstances may be, that there is a reason for it. You may not like where you are at, but you are in the training grounds for becoming all that God wants you to be, so that He can put you in a position of greatness.  
Remember that "Humility preceeds honor, (Proverbs 15:33)" and that if you "Humble yourselves before the Lord, He will exhalt you [at the right time]." (James4:10, 1 Peter 5:6). So if you feel you are being humbled by your circumstances, know that it is because God is preparing you for great things. Also keep in mind that "those who can be entrusted with little can also be entrusted with much" (Luke 16:10). If you are faithful with the little God has given you, you will be blessed with more. If you keep being an honorable person of uprightness and integrity, despite your humble circumstances, God will honor that.

His Timing is Perfect

"He has made everything in it's perfect timing."Ecclesiastes 3:11

Sometimes we want to rush things in our lives or we become anxious or impatient and feel as if things aren't moving fast enough, or that we aren't where we should be. Let me tell you something, God has you EXACTLY where He wants you to be. If you are feeling discouraged because your life is not how you would like it, take heart knowing that God has you where you are for a reason. Maybe you're in a job you don't like or you feel overqualified for, maybe you can't stand your coworkers or bosses. Maybe you feel like you're in a relationship rut, or stuck in a circumstance that has just seemed to be dragging out for too long. Instead of complaining about how these circumstances could be better, I urge you to start asking what it is that God wants you to learn from this circumstance. You can tell him, "God, I don't know why you have me here, and even though it is uncomfortable, help me to learn what it is that you want me to learn from this situation. Open my eyes to see the work you want me to do here." Ask Him to help you see what you need to learn, and if there is someone He wants you to minister to. Maybe He has you at your job so that you can be an encouragement to someone in desperate need of it. Whatever situation you are in, there is a reason and a purpose. Start asking God for the reason of why He has you where He has you and what you can learn from it, and I guarantee you will begin to see doors open, results happen, and changes for the better begin to occur in your life.

“Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete” James 1:2-4