Have you ever considered that our brain is like a bartender? It will serve us up whatever we ask for. It’s incredible like that. Whatever we want to believe, it will scan like crazy to find evidence to support those thoughts.
It works both ways. When we want to believe that life is overwhelming and we don’t have the support we need, our brain, like a good bartender, will serve up everything it can find to make sure that we have the evidence that we need to confirm those sad thoughts. Think of all the thoughts you have stashed away that actually cause you pain and trouble. I don’t have enough time. I’m not appreciated. I’m on the outside of the circle.
On the other hand, the Bible has a really wonderful command for us to tell our brain. REJOICE. That’s right. Ask your brain to help you find reasons to feel and generate JOY. I guarantee that if you command your brain to scan for reasons to find joy and intentionally desire it to do so, it can do that as well. Add the power of prayer, the will of the Father that we obey his commands, and the help of the Holy Spirit and you have an amazing antidote to overcome our tendency to look with dismay at ourselves, our circumstances and the world. In fact, not only does the Bible tell us to rejoice, it also promises us that THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH (Nehemiah 8:10).
And I don’t even have time to tell you about the physical impacts rejoicing has on your body but you can google it if you’re interested.
So today my sister, I urge you to intentionally choose to rejoice. To look far above your situation and circumstances, whatever they are, and to look to our loving heavenly Father who tells us to rejoice and then fills us with his strength to keep moving on.
Bartending brain - serve it up!
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