Start Your Year, Start Your Day



January 22, 2010
Philippians 3:20-21

 

20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.

21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

Philippians 3:20-21 (NLT)


This is the time of year when we all make resolutions to change ourselves. Some of us want to lose weight or get into shape, some want to quit a habit or make a new one. It seems like we are always trying to change something about ourselves.

In these verses, Paul tells us when we get to heaven God will transform our bodies to be like His. What an exciting thought! We all deal with something or another that we will surely be glad to be rid of. But I wonder if we are as concerned about our minds. As much as God wants to change our bodies when we get to heaven, he wants to change our minds while we are still here. Paul says in Romans 12:2 that God wants to change us into a new person by the way we think. When we do that it also says we will know what God's will is for our lives which is "good and pleasing and perfect".

One way we can do this is to just spend time with him daily. Have you ever noticed that you take on the characteristics of those you spend the most time with? How cool would it be if we spent so much time in God's word that we actually started to act like him!

 

A Thankful Thought


Thoughts on being thankful... it is essential to your health--spiritually, physically and mentally.  It is impossible for bitterness, selfishness or self-pity to grow in a thankful heart. 

To be honest, I feel more thankful at night than in the morning.  Each night as I lay in bed I am overwhelmed with gratitude that today was not the day.  It wasn't the day the test results came back positive, it wasn't the day the sheriff called to tell me one of my sons was in a car wreck, it wasn't the day by beloved father died, it wasn't the day... just fill in the blank.  

In the morning I am thankful that if today should turn out to be the day, God will be right by my side helping me through the difficult times.  I am thankful that God is capable of infusing my life with joy and peace in the midst of sorrow and strife.

A NewSpring Staff Member

 


Your Comments

1

Debbie Schneider | January 22, 2010 at 08.21 am

I would have to agree with the part where we start to take on the characteristicts of who we spend time with and that is why I try to spend alot of time with God and I must say that I for sure fail in this area also..I am thankful every day for all the things God allows me to do for I have M.S and there are so many things that I might not be able to do because of this disease but my God is bigger than any trouble we may have in our lives and we (I) need to be more thankful than upset that things did not go the way we wanted because they for sure went the way our God wanted them to.In short I say be thankful for what you DO have which is a God who loves you cares for you and will never leave you….Have a blessed day….

2

Stephanie Vap | January 22, 2010 at 08.36 am

Wow!!  The verse & notes are great, but the thankful thought got it dead center for me. Last Thursday was “the day” for me. My grandfather passed away and now so much sorrow and strife is going through my family and, I will admit, in my own heart. But I have also felt a peace in the midst of this; just knowing where my grandfather is, being proud of him and knowing that God may use this major event to change the hearts of some in my family. This I am so thankful for!

3

jane ann | January 22, 2010 at 09.53 am

How thankful I am that God is using me even when I am unaware! Yesterday someone mentioned how my friendship had helped get them into the ministry their heart has longed for for so long. Praise God! How this makes me think about my thoughts and actions every minute of every day! How I want to be more like Christ, so that light shines through when someone else is watching me! And may I never forget who’s light shines within me.


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