So how is your “FIGHT” going? Have you taken a “jab” at committing to change the one thing you do have control over, YOUR ATTITUDE?  It is CHOICE. I had to buy myself a reminder, that my CHOICE was to CHOOSE JOY!

Have you taken a “jab” at taking a time out? Have you thrown a “punch” at reflecting on yourself? Have you thrown another “punch” at self- evaluating where you are? Considering how you got there and making a positive change to correct anything in your life that is not God-honoring and positive?

Finally, did you throw a hard “punch” at your prayer life?
Have you set aside specific time with God to not only throw your requests, needs and wants up to Him, but to also listen to Him as He speaks to you?

If you have thrown several “jabs and punches” at these first positive commitments to changing and maintaining a positive attitude in 2017 and you feel the beads of sweat rolling down your face from the “FIGHT,”
“Do not grow weary in doing good!” Galatians 6:9

GOD PROMISES THAT WHEN WE “FIGHT” FOR HIM, HE WILL PRODUCE A HARVEST OF GOOD IN OUR LIVES! PRAISE HIM!

If you have thrown a few “jabs and punches” here and there, and you feel the opponent breathing down your neck and threatening to hinder your good progress, “FIGHT ON!” (Yes, I am a USC fan, but in my humble opinion they borrowed a great line from the creator of VICTORY!)
Continue in the FIGHT my friends. God promises you are not fighting alone.

If you find your self reading this with your face flat down on the mat, and you have not even thrown one “jab” or “punch” yet, take heart, IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO START!

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

Friends our goal is to “Stay In The Fight!” To JAB and PUNCH each and every day at committing to control our attitude. Give it to Christ each and every day. Remember, their will be days of victory and success, and also days of struggle and defeat. Our God is our strength,
“The JOY of The Lord is my STRENGTH…” Nehemiah 10:8b

In our own strength the FIGHT is too hard, too much work and too overwhelming! We get tired, discouraged and burnt out. But, when we set our minds on GOD, He fills us with His Holy Spirit, and NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!
“Nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:37

So, are you ready to pick your tired self back up and take another “Jab” at this worthy FIGHT with me?

WE GOT THIS!

JAB NUMBER TWO: READ THE BIBLE!

PUNCH LEFT – JUST OPEN UP THE WORD! It is literally at your finger tips these days in any form you prefer! You can leaf through the worn, familiar pages and crack open that beat up, falling apart leather copy you have had for ages. Or, you can treat yourself with a gift worth paying for and buy a brand new Bible! One that opens up with that lovely “new book” smell as you open it’s pages and hear the crackle and crunch as you gently pull each page apart. Or, you can pull up your favorite Bible app on your smart phone. You can select your favorite version or read the same passages in several different versions. Or, you can find an app on your favorite tablet or computer. THERE IS TRULY UPTEEN WAYS YOU CAN READ THE BIBLE!

The Challenge is to READ IT EVERY DAY!
If this task feels daunting to you, then consider that if you have made it this far through my Blog you have already read the Word of God several times!

PUNCH RIGHT – MAKE A BIBLE READING PLAN!

Would you consider taking a trip without a plan? Now maybe like me you thrive on a bit of spontaneity, but even when I take a “spontaneous” trip, I must admit planning goes into it!
Would you send your children to school without a plan?
‘Good Bye kids! I’ve heard our neighborhood school is a good one. See you after school, ENJOY!’
Would you attend a church, a concert, a movie, or most of the time these days, even a restaurant without planning it? We basically live our lives with a PLAN! When we do not have a plan, the event is typically not successful, and followed through on!
Let’s face it, most of us even have a PLAN for the grocery store. Otherwise, we would buy too many of the wrong items, return home without the items we needed, and definitely would buy too many of those “random” purchases, and end of with what we do not need!

What We Need Is a PLAN to CHANGE OUR ATTITUDE IN 2017 TO A POSITIVE ONE!
Making a PLAN to Read God’s Word each and every day, one verse or a chapter or a book at a time, will give us the tool to “fight for it!”

TRUTH BOMB

Reading the Bible never returns void!

We are in full FIGHTING Mode now. We have taken two big “JABS” and have begun to throw “PUNCHES!”
Let’s continue to commit our minds to the one thing we can control, our attitude.
Let’s “FIGHT ON” at changing and maintaining a positive attitude!
You are not alone. God is with you! Feel His presence this week as you PRAY and READ HIS WORD! Meet you back here next week for JAB NUMBER THREE as we continuing Fighting for our attitudes!

Speak Truth Love