Principle 4: No more self-pity!
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. — Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)
If you really embrace this promise from God and let it be the foundation of your perspective of life, then there won’t be any room for the negative mind-set of self-pity or a “What about me?!” attitude.
It’s usually true that no matter how bad you may think things are for you, there is someone else who has it worse than you. That’s not intended to minimize your pain, but to help you realize that focusing on yourself and your problems and pains won’t get you anywhere in the healing process.
God doesn’t want you to be consumed by self-pity, thoughts of your past, or an “everybody owes me” perspective. God works through hope and faith! So today, we’re going to dig in to scriptures that will fuel your hope in God and encourage you to count your blessings!
Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double — Zechariah 9:12 (ESV)
Joyce says this about being a prisoner of hope: “I like the phrase 'prisoners of hope'. Think about it: If you’re a prisoner, you have no choice about it—you can’t be negative. And when times are tough or you’re dealing with disappointment, hope will cause you to rise up in faith and say, ‘God, I praise You and I believe You’re working on this situation and working in me. My faith, trust and hope are in You!’
"Hope is a favorable and confident expectation; it’s an expectant attitude that something good is going to happen and things will work out, no matter what situation we’re facing. Hope is determined and doesn’t give up. God wants us to be locked up in hope, trusting that He can change what needs to be changed, that we can do what He wants us to do, and that all things are possible with God. If we will be steadfast in our hope, we can’t lose—we have to be winners in life!”
Wow! In Christ, we can actually be “locked up in hope,” prepared to overcome any disappointment or difficult situation that tempts you to think “What about me?!”
So, are you encouraged yet? What negative experiences, thoughts or attitudes are weighing on your soul today? Take them to God in prayer and spend some time meditating on scriptures like Romans 8 and Psalm 37. List the promises of God along with the wisdom we need to follow to experience them.
Expect something good to happen to you today!
