You can have a good day in 2 steps

Before you went to bed last night, did you say “Tomorrow is going to be a good day.”? I did. I begin the weekend shut-down process about 7:00 pm, squeezing in the last few leftover tasks that can’t be left undone – or my day will start out in chaos.  I read something good for my mind, review scripture our pastor used during his message on Sunday, and pray for everyone and everything that comes to mind. Monday has to be a good day. You can have a good day too.  Sure, things will go wrong, but if it’s firmly planted in our minds that our day will be good, that’s where it starts.   That’s step one. Proverbs 23:7 lays it out for us by saying the way we think in our hearts is who we are, who we become. “…for as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”
Step two comes after step one, it’s a natural progression right?  Step one, then step two.  If we think we will have a good day, and don’t let insidious thoughts of defeat and pessimism creep in, they can’t ruin that good day you’ve already planned to have. Football coach Vince Lombardi very wisely told his team, “Practice doesn’t make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.” That makes sense, doesn’t it? This is why it’s important to set our minds on what is good and honorable and train our thoughts to practice having the attitudes that lead to a good day – not just on Saturday, but even on Monday.  If you’re anxious, remember what 1 Peter 5:7 says “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
Philippians 4 – phenomenal instruction on how to have a good day, every day.  In these few verses Philippians 4:8-9 it’s pretty obvious that our thoughts make a difference. “…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
My heart wants to have a good day. That means a lot of sorting. From the time a thought enters my mind, I have to decide if that’s the kind of thought that’s good and acceptable. If that thought germinates, what will it produce? We live in a world that’s fodder for extraordinary results. Our resources today are unparalled with any other time in history. If we don’t know something we can look it up in under 60 seconds. We are besieged with information – food for thought that nurtures or neglects the attitudes determining the outcome of our day. The same phrase used to describe computer programming “Garbage in, garbage out.” is a good analogy for us humans, too.  Garbage in, garbage out.  Let’s keep our hearts and minds clear of garbage.
Jesus said in John 14:27 (NET) “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage.”
Have a good day! and let it begin in advance.  Starry Night by Chris August
First published August 4, 2013
Scripture access: BibleGateway.com

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