by: Cris Corzine-McCloskey
What a privilege it is to get to write this article. Especially today, because the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and all seems right with the world. Later this morning I get to take a hot shower and go to church. Afterward, this beautiful day will certainly be warm enough for dog walking. And sometime in my day, food will be involved. Cooking and eating. I enjoy at least one of those activities. An ideal day is on the horizon!
That, my friends, is an example of my positive reframing of activities I “have” to do today. If you listen to people talk you will discover we often view things from a negative perspective. “I have to work,” “I have to take a shower.” “I have to walk the dogs.” In those 3 seemingly benign statements I turned activities that are God-given privileges into drudgery.
When our cars need gas, most us choose the cheapest at the station. We give little thought to what long-term effect cheap fuel has on the car, we just fill up and go. Our thoughts are the fuel we run on, and we have been raised in a very negative culture, so most of us are running on cheap gas. If you want peak performance in your mental and physical health, you need to change your fuel source.
Last week we talked about choosing peace as a priority in 2019. This week I am going to teach you 2 tips to upgrade your thought life to premium gas, and 1 that could modify you to solar panels. The choice will be yours. But lets at least determine the cheap gas has got to go!
Hopefully, per last weeks discussion, you are already starting your day feeding on the positive. Now, I want you to try an experiment. Before you leave your house each morning, flip a coin. If it comes up tails, proceed as usual. If it comes up heads, force yourself to reframe the day’s events positively. All of your “have” to’s become “get” to’s. Lift your head and smile at people, and if they do something that seems hurtful, give them the benefit of the doubt. Then, at the end of your day, ask yourself 3 questions. What was 1 thing that surprised you in the day? What was 1 thing that moved you? What was 1 thing that inspired you? Then reflect on how you felt during the day.
After that, jot down a couple of things you are grateful for, say a quick prayer, and you are done. No need to think about praying to forgive anyone from the day, you already gave them the benefit of the doubt, so you are not offended. You are ready for bed. You have just had a day with premium fuel and an oil change! Track yourself, and notice how much better you feel on those premium fuel days.
If you want to really supercharge your life, upgrade to solar panels. If you are solar powered, you will gain your strength from the sun, or the Son, in this instance. You will invite Jesus into your entire day. Talk to Him throughout. Praise Him in the good moments, trust His grace in the challenges. In all things give thanks.
King David gave us examples of this in Psalm 118:24. He boldly declared, “This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.” And Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want.” I picture him making both of these declarations through clenched teeth. David had grit and determination and sought God in everything he did. That is a portrait of a life running on solar power. That’s what made him a giant slayer. If you want to slay some giants, or at least not feel like crap at the end of the day, you are going to have to change your fuel source. Regular, Premium or Solar powered; God leaves the choice to you.
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