The song running through my mind this morning: “O what a beautiful Morning, O what a beautiful day” ….but the rest of it doesn’t suit my idea of a perfect reflection of a beautiful morning at all. “I’ve got a wonderful feeling”….personally, I get into a lot of trouble because of feelings, don’t you? I try hard to make good, right choices so that I don’t operate on feelings. And the last phrase is “Everything’s going my way”. Well, that pretty much sums up the general consensus of our society’s evaluation of a good day. But is it really? That thought can take a lot of directions.

As I started my morning I pondered how a dissatisfied mentality is always seeking but never satisfied. Proverbs 27:20 sums it up pretty well, “Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.” And isn’t that true? We aren’t ever satisfied if left to our own thinking and ways of living life. The world’s way is to ever search for more to make us, or keep us, happy. Been there, done that, and that Happy Train derailed before it ever got out of the station for me. Discontentment is a rapid downward spiral … a bottomless pit that will only result in dark days and woefully restless nights. We weren’t made for the likes of this.

What a blessed day it was when in the depths of despair over trying to haul around burdens that weren’t mine to carry, assuming responsibilities for tasks not mine to shoulder, I happened upon Hebrews 13:15

The principle I learned: to choose gratitude over grumbling, Praise for God’s good plan and purpose over searching for satisfaction.  The concept of  sacrificial praise….finding in my heart the where-with-all to acknowledge God’s goodness and care even in difficult circumstances was entrance into a new world for me.  Gratitude that even though life can get rough, God has a plan and purpose greater than what I am experiencing in the here and now.  And life in this world pales by comparison to what He has for me when my numbered days are done here.

I still have times when I could do better, but choose to wallow in my self pity.  I’ve spent enough time enjoying peace, rest and comfort though, to know that God intends better for me than wallowing.  And I don’t waste near as much time now regaining that balance, getting on top of the pity party and dispelling despair, discouragement and a disabled spirit.

So, stop what you are doing right this minute and look around you.  What will you choose to focus your thoughts on today?  Here are my choices:

1. A slightly tipped out building very old and worn, moss on a door indicating a water issue that might need to be addressed, weeds in the flower beds, trees that are dying, need to be removed, a body that is uncooperative in accomplishing everything my mind thinks we should do today, energy resources deficient to address work that needs to be done, an empty bluebird box, and on and on.  The devil makes sure there is no end to the negative situations, circumstances, events I can find, once that initial seed of discontent is sown.
2. God’s beautiful creation, the senses He created in us to see, and smell, and touch and feel, the provision He makes for us daily to know His love and care, His Word that encourages my heart to trust what I cannot see, to have confidence that His Word is true, that He has a plan and purpose for me that is for my ultimate spiritual good, and on and on that can go as well

I’m not oblivious to the negatives.  I choose not to focus on them and ruin my outlook for a pleasant, God honoring, thankful day.  Some days I fail.  Today, that’s not my intention.  And at the end of the day, I”ll be thankful for what was accomplished, knowing that I could have spent my day moaning and groaning about what I couldn’t do but in God’s strength and encouragement did not.  That’s a start.

What is your focus today?  Choose the blessing of joy.

Do you need a ladder to get out of that dark pit of despair?  Let me know.  I think I have a suggestion.

Eph 1:16 – 21  Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,  21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: