Top 5 Scriptures to Turn My Attitude Around (#goals)
Well, I let the cat out of the bag and told you my word for 2019 – Happy.
Risky, I know.
Because what if I wake up on the wrong side of the bed? Or what if the dog chews up my shoes? Or what if I argue with my husband and I just want to be mad? Then you’ll know I’m breaking my New Year’s Resolution. Ugh.
Is it really like that? Can I just resolve to be happy? Well, in my last post I talked a little about the strategic element to pursuing happiness. And now I’m going to let you in a little on one actual day-to-day strategy.
What can you and I both do to help us to be happy?
If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes.
Andrew Carnegie
Goal #1 to being happy: Fill Up with Good Things
If you’ve taken a turn around Joy Let Loose at all, you’ll know I love Jesus. If you aren’t sure whether you do, that’s ok. It’s still cool you’re here. But I need you to know that Jesus is always my filter. He’s always my lens. (P.S. If you haven’t read anything else on my site, hang out awhile. Check out previous posts in all my menus. You’ll find stuff about family, about trauma, about moving, jewelry, and even my choice to use essential oils. There’s a little bit of everything here, but I see it all through Jesus. And I’d love to sit and have coffee with you for a bit.)
So anyway, my very first goal – filling up with good things – has to do with Him. And specifically, the Bible. Because I have come to trust the Scriptures to turn my attitude around.
Confession time:
I’ve been in ministry for 20+ years – Churches, Bible Colleges, Discipleship Groups, Youth Groups…that’s a long time to be a spiritual leader. And most of that time, I’ve been a faithful student of the Bible. However, there are seasons where I have fallen off the wagon, so to speak. Where I allow my busy-ness or my tired-ness or my sad-ness or my confident-ness 🙂 to distract me from what I know deep down is an ultimate priority. Because I allow them to pull me away from spending time reading the Bible. So I can tell you from firsthand experience how much of a difference it makes in my level of happiness when I choose to fill up with good things – I need the Scriptures to turn my attitude around.
Renew Your Mind
Paul tells the Romans not to conform to the patterns of the world, but to be transformed by the renewing of their minds. (Romans 12:2) So how do we renew our minds? I believe one primary way to renew our minds so that we do not conform to the patterns of our world, and so that we are able to test and approve God’s perfect and pleasing will, is to read and meditate on scripture.
- Scripture is a window into God’s heart. It is the primary way God chose to show us who He is. And it is abundant in the grace and love of our heavenly Father.
- Scripture is a mirror. It reveals to us who we are. And also who God has created us to be. It is direct, vulnerable, kind, and transformative.
- Scripture is living and active. It changes the way that we think and make our decisions.
- Scripture is a perspective-changer. Like a brand-new lens, it helps us to see things with a Kingdom focus. It helps us to discover what God is doing through our circumstances, and not to focus on the circumstances alone.
- Scripture sustains us. The Holy Spirit often uses it to remind us of truth in difficult moments. The more we are filled up with it, the more opportunity He has to fuel us with it in our day-to-day life.
Filling up with good things: the goal that commands my thoughts, liberates my energy, and inspires my hope.
With that in mind, then, who’s in? I’m choosing to depend on Scriptures to turn my attitude around. So do you want to join me to meditate on these 5 short passages over the next 15 days? I plan to focus on one Scripture for three days straight. I will read it, cross-reference it, write it out, memorize it, talk about it, and sit silently asking God to help me live into it. And I’m pretty confident this will help me on my journey as I choose #happy.
Join me!
So let me know by clicking here if you are joining me while I’m learning these 5 Scriptures to turn my attitude around. And if you do, I’ll send you a few encouragements along the way.
What about you – what’s your word for 2019? Have you created a strategy to see it become a reality in your life? Tell us in the comments below!
BEVIE
January 21, 2019
My word for 2019 is BELIEVE
Elizabeth JOY
January 21, 2019
Beautiful! How are you going to lean into that? Do you have a plan for how you will choose to believe?
Wanda killam
January 21, 2019
Well ,Elizabeth Joy , I wish you could have seen me reading your blog , I was smiling ,nodding my head and saying yes , yes , yes ,me too . I’ll never forget asking God for wisdom in 1990 in the season of my life at that time , first child leaving the nest . Looking back I can see how He answered my prayer in a very unique way .He gave me an unsatiable love for His Word. It is as strong today and I am desperate for a word from Him every day He never lets me down . Along the way He has filled me with Joy .It is everywhere in scripture .
My word for 2019 is Peace .So many good sctiptures with peace . One I read yesterday may be my verse for the year .Phil .4 :7 And the Peace of God ,which transcends all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus . Of course verse 4 ,5 and 6 brings this Peace of God .😁
Thank you .With Joy, Wanda
Elizabeth JOY
January 21, 2019
Love it! Your intentionality to pursue Jesus and His joy is inspiring. So glad you are on this journey!
Laura MacMunn
January 22, 2019
I have a phrase rather than a word: burn it down. I lead a MOPS group at my church and this was one of the studies we did a few months ago. The premise is that before we can move forward we have to burn down the things (worry, idols, sins) that hold us back. So this year, I am asking God to show me what is in the way, how to burn it down, and to grow closer to him.
Elizabeth
January 22, 2019
Wow! That sounds powerful! Praying God will be very clear and present with you on that journey! ❤️
Amy Carlisle
January 22, 2019
I think my word for 2019 would be hope. For the past 18 months or so I have been dealing with a chronic pain situation that took me completely off guard and has made a daily impact on my life. It has challenged every part of me including my faith, forcing me to dig deep about who God is and His love for me. I have adopted Even If by Mercy Me as my theme song for this year season. Holding onto to hope while learning to be ok if God leaves these mountains unmovable.
I know You’re able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don’t
My hope is You alone
My strategy is to spend time daily with the Lord through devotionals and bible study. I am participating in an online bible study currently by Lysa Terkeurst entitled, “It’s not suppose to be this way.” The online option is great as it allows flexibility to complete it when I have time, but many friends are participating so it also gives the accountability of a group. This blog will also now become part of my strategy. 🙂
It has also been important for me to find purpose in the pain. Through this season I have found several opportunities to develop closer relationships with others who have been going through trying physical situations. I am quite certain these relationships and the things God is doing through them would not have occurred if not for my current pain. I try to find daily opportunities to be a blessing to others.
Oh, and lots of worship music!! 🙂
Elizabeth
January 22, 2019
Thanks for being so vulnerable to share, Amy. I can feel your persistence in your response. Praying the God continues to anoint your eyes to see what He is doing through your circumstances, and that the new relationships will flourish to be life-giving for all of you. Our HOPE is definitely in the Lord. ❤️
Elizabeth Edgett
January 22, 2019
Wisdom and Purpose have been my words for several months and will continue to be for 2019. I love how God speaks into my life…often in ways I least expect it.
Elizabeth
January 22, 2019
Isn’t that awesome? Two things predictable about Him are that He will
always be faithful and He will always be good. But we don’t always know what that’s going to look like as it plays out in our lives.
Ayanna
January 23, 2019
My word for 2019 in Thrive. I love the idea of “Filling up with the good things”. That will definitely help me put my word into action.
Elizabeth
January 24, 2019
Awesome, I’m so glad! Thrive!!
Joanna Teigen
January 23, 2019
My word is LISTEN, from Psalm 81. God loves us so much, he longs for me to listen to what he has to say and live it out. If I do, his promises of victory and heart-satisfaction are freely given. I’m in an extremely busy season right now, so listening must be a daily decision. He’s so good to invite me to hear his heart and his Word!
Elizabeth
January 24, 2019
Beautiful! Yes He is. Be still and know He is God.