“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” (Philippians 2:1-4)
Here’s a challenge for the New Year. Try to have a positive attitude for the next 24 hours. This will mean you will need to control your negative thoughts and verbal exclamations about everything. For some, this may prove to be nearly impossible, as you may have trained your mind to see negative rather than positive.
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Philippians 4:8 is not a fairy-tale, “pie-in-the-sky” verse of Scripture that has no merit. It is wisdom. It is Joy!
I give this New Year’s challenge to you. Commit yourself to looking for the good side of life for an entire day; then commit to a week putting a positive spin on everything. After that, do not stop; let joy rule your life.
Will you take the challenge? I know of a whole church that committed to fasting from complaining for 30 days. Choose Joy!
