‘In every thing give thanks...’ 1Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV

Author Barbara Johnson was frazzled; she was running late, and on the bus to work she had to stand. Her attitude was going downhill fast when a cheery voice from the front of the bus announced, ‘Beautiful day, isn’t it?’ She couldn’t see the man, but she listened to his commentary as he described the lovely scenery…this church…that park…a cemetery…a firehouse. His grateful attitude lightened the mood of everybody around him. Then as Johnson got off the bus she caught a glimpse of the speaker: an average-looking man wearing dark glasses and carrying a white stick! Paul said, ‘In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God.’ We don’t thank God for trials, we thank Him in them. Gratitude is like a boomerang. It blesses the recipient, makes a 180-degree turn and blesses the person who gives thanks.

One Bible teacher says: ‘Whatever crisis there is in your life, before it ever came God made sure you’d be able to endure it…others have gone through exactly what you’re going through…and made it through victoriously…with every temptation God promised to “’‘…make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Trials and “’‘escape ways” are inseparable. But the devil doesn’t want you to know that, so every time you go through a test, he tells you there’s no way out. I learned long ago when the devil keeps pressuring me, it’s always an indication that “the way out” is about to be revealed…We need to do what God says. “Rejoice!” Remember, “…The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). When you have His joy, it gives you strength for the journey’.

‘Let my words and…thoughts be pleasing to you, Lord...’ Psalms 19:14 CEV

Are you afraid to speak up in case you encounter disapproval? The Bible says, ‘Fearing people is a dangerous trap…’ (Proverbs 29:25 NLT). And fear is common among people-pleasers. One author writes: ‘A pleaser daughter is one who, at any age, still tries to please her parents. From report cards to parenting style…her decisions are coloured by the opinions of the people who raised her. But remember what Paul said, “When I was a child…I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me” (1 Corinthians 13:11 NIV). 

A pleaser friend is one who can’t say no. Resentment may build up, but she always turns up and takes care of things. What she considers love and loyalty are often exploited by others who seek reliance, co-dependency and caretaking. A pleaser employee consistently works long hours without compensation or appreciation, covers for others who don’t pull their weight, and bites her tongue when her boss or colleagues take credit for her work. A pleaser wife is one who in her desire to be perfect…becomes an altered version of the woman her husband fell in love with.

A pleaser mum fears the loss of her children’s love. She’s afraid to set boundaries, even though they create an atmosphere of comfort and respect. She equates discipline with division, and by depriving her children of rules she ends up missing out on the later-life friendship that’s the desert of good parents.’ The only thing you should be concerned about is making sure that your ‘words and…thoughts’ please God. In the end, His approval is the only thing that counts.

‘The plans of the diligent lead to profit...’ Proverbs 21:5 NIV

In his book, Thinking for a Change, Dr. John Maxwell says, ‘The right thought, plus the right people, in the right environment, at the right time, for the right reason, always produces the right result.’ Let’s take a minute and break those words down: 

1) The right thought. Thinking produces ideas, and ideas have incredible power and potential. But every idea begins as a ‘seed thought,’ so you have to nurture and protect it.

2) The right people. When you expose the right idea to the right people, great things happen. In their company it blossoms and becomes infused with possibility.

3) The right environment. In the right environment thinking is valued, ideas flow freely, fresh eyes are welcome, changes are expected, questions are encouraged, egos are checked, ideas stimulate better ideas, and thinking generates teamwork.

4) The right time. The Emperor Hadrian said, ‘To be right too soon, is to be wrong.’ While still in the ‘stretching’ stage of an idea, present it without expectation, time frames, or rigidly defined goals. Why? Because if you try to implement your idea too early it may not survive.

5) The right reason. J. P. Morgan said, ‘A man always has two reasons for doing anything: a good idea, and the real reason.’ Motives matter - and selfish motives disqualify us. God only gets behind ideas that fulfil His purposes and demonstrate His love for others. Sometimes an idea becomes great when it partners with another idea; other times it excels just as it is. One thing is certain: as you stretch your thinking, you will discover that your thinking is stretching you.

‘God created man in his own image...’ Genesis 1:27 NIV

The Bible says: ‘God created man in his own image…male and female he created them. God blessed them and said…”Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over…every living creature that moves on the ground.” Then God said, ”I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours…’’’ (vv. 27-29 NIV). God has given you everything required to succeed at whatever He’s called you to do. But you must tap into your God-given creativity! T

he Bible says, ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish’ (Proverbs 29:18 KJV). Every great accomplishment begins as a vision, and every God-given vision comes with the innate power to fulfil it. Others may be more educated and experienced, but they don’t have a monopoly on creativity. The chances are, there’s a ‘God-idea’ inside you right now that’s just waiting to be released. By not tapping into it, you’re settling for less than God wants you to have.

Whatever you feel called to do—write, paint, preach, play a piano, build a business, nurse, teach—make the leap and do it. If you wait until you can do it perfectly or without criticism, you’ll never do it! Walking on water begins with one step of faith. It also brings you closer to Jesus. You see, Jesus wasn’t in the boat, He was out on the water saying to His disciples, ‘Come’ (Matthew 14:29 NKJV). Only one of them did: Peter. And though he did it imperfectly, it changed his life. So don’t be afraid, tap into your creativity and watch what happens.