Week: July 7 – 13, 2024                                                                                                       

Read: Proverbs 15:15
Key Verse: “All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart
has a continual feast.”

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Life is what you make it?” I heard this saying often as I
was growing up, but it wasn’t until I got older that I realized there was truth in these
words. Similar to this saying, is the key verse in this week’s devotional. The contrast is
about how one perceives their circumstances. You can choose to be filled with fear and
frustration, or you can choose to be filled with abundance and peace; the choice is up to
you. Your decision is based on your attitude.

What is your attitude right now as you are reading this note? Are you fearful? Are you
worried? Are you angry? Did you complain today? Did you walk around with a frown on
your face instead of a smile? Proverbs 15:15 is not meant to be a comparison between
success and suffering, but rather between pessimism and a trust in God. Your perspective
has tremendous impact on your happiness (Proverbs 15:13). And if we are being
transparent, your perspective impacts more than just you; it impacts the happiness (or
lack thereof) of the people around you.

Life is not just left to chance. Each of us will get some good with the bad, and some bitter
with the sweet, but the great news is we can make something out of it. You have to make
the best of every situation. While you may not be able to control what happens in life, you
can control how you respond or react to it.

We must learn the lessons that life teaches us regardless of how harsh they may be. From
those lessons , we become better people. The next time you are dealt one of life’s blows,
think about how you can benefit from it. Think about your attitude. Decipher how you
can make the best of the situation and keep moving forward until your blessings abound.

Prayer: “Father God, help me to become a better person. Replace my anxieties with
thanksgiving and endow me with Your knowledge and wisdom, so I may be the person You have called me to be. In Jesus’ name. Amen”