Don't Worry...Be Happy

This week I'm trying something new. This new thing may seem easy to many people, but it's hard for me. I have to work at it, and ask God to help me do it countless times a day. This thing has helped my outlook so much, though.

Last week, I wrote a blog about counting your blessings. Well, this is slightly similar, but just a continuation of what God's been teaching me through that whole counting the blessings thing.

My new aspiration is to look at the positive and good things in every situation. Yes, I, Whitney Michelle Hall, just said that I am looking at the positive. Growing up...well, long story short, the phrase "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" was permanently ingrained in my memory at a young age. So, that is why this is such a big deal for me.

So yeah, that has been my plan and will continue to be. Forget being uptight and mad or annoyed about everyone and everything. I am giving the situation to God and asking Him to let me look at it through His perspective. Don't Worry, Be Happy, has some lyrics that I am taking to heart.

Don't Worry, Be Happy
by Bobby McFerrin

Here is a little song I wrote
You might want to sing it note for note
Don't worry be happy
In every life we have some trouble
When you worry you make it double
Don't worry, be happy...

Cause when you worry
Your face will frown
And that will bring everybody down
So don't worry, be happy...

Put a smile on your face
Don't worry. Be happy.

Last night at prayer meeting, we discussed discouragement and encouragement, and what encourages us when we're discouraged. The song "Count Your Many Blessings" was brought up. Yes, it's an old-fashioned hymn that isn't heard often, but the lyrics help to put things in perspective for me.

When upon life's billows

You are tempest tossed

When you are discouraged,

Thinking all is lost

Count your many blessings,

Name them one by one

And it will surprise you

What the Lord. has. done.

So often the negative is focused on as opposed to the positive. What if I started focusing on the positive and how God's shown Himself to be trustworthy and powerful? I think my outlook on life would completely change.

I have a choice. A choice that will alter the course of how I live my life. What will I choose?

Optimism or pessimism.

Trust or doubt.

Love or hate.

Truth or lies.

Victory or defeat.

I choose:

Optimism.

Trust.

Love.

Truth.

Victory.

What will you choose?

Impossible Becomes Possible

"Discover the limits of the possible by going beyond them into the impossible."

-Arthur C. Clarke

Luke 18:27 says, "Jesus said, the things that are impossible for people

to do, are possible for God to do."

The past several years in my life, I've seen that verse become a reality. God has changed the impossible to possible.

When I think there is no way, God makes a way.

When the situation appears hopeless, God gives me hope.

God has been stretching me lately. He has broken the limits of what I thought was possible, and has done the impossible. I continue to be amazed day by day, as He exhibits more of His love and power to me. God doing the impossible basically defines my life.

My God is the God of the impossible

He's the God that can do anything

He allows Himself to do

The mountains move, the seas divide

To show that He is on my side

Yes, my life speaks of His ability

He can make things possible for me.