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Keep Your Commitments

For which of you, wishing to build a farm building, does not first sit down and calculate the cost [to see] whether he has sufficient means to finish it?

-Luke 14:28 (AMPC)

Do you ever say yes to things and then wish later with all of your heart that you had said no? Most of us do that until we learn to think through all we are already doing and what it will really require of us to take on another commitment.

None of us want to disappointment people who make requests of us, and that can be a good thing, but if it is carried too far, we end up frustrated, stressed, and unhappy ourselves.

I am doing an event in the near future that I said yes to but probably should have said no, because now I am not looking forward to it and I feel it is crowding my schedule. But it is my own fault. I will keep my word because that is very important, and I will have a good attitude, and hopefully, I will learn afresh the importance of saying no when I need to.

I encourage you to take the time to think through whether or not you have what it takes to finish something and maintain your peace before you begin it. Always keep your word, even if you have to suffer in order to do so.

Prayer of the Day: Father, help me discern when to say yes and when to say no. I want to finish what I start and keep my peace at all times.

Take Care of Yourself

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.

-3 John 2 (NIV)

Sometimes we experience hardships, such as the loss of a loved one or betrayal of a close friend, that impact our life in devastating ways. I’ve discovered from my own experiences that when you are going through a prolonged season of deep painful emotions, especially grief, it is important to realize that you may need to do some things differently to manage the stress and intensity of your feelings. Taking care of yourself and your own needs will help you get through the situation in a healthy way.

Taking care of yourself means different things to different people. For some it may mean taking a few days of paid time off to take a break from a toxic work environment or scheduling a massage or manicure on a regular basis for a while. For others it may mean preparing healthy meals, exercising frequently, and getting enough sleep at night. Introverts may want to spend time reading a book, while extroverts may want to eat lunch with friends or go to a social event. It doesn’t matter what the people around you do to take care of themselves. You do what you need to do to take care of yourself.

Sometimes people feel guilty about taking care of themselves and making sure their needs are met. There is no reason to feel this way. Think of it as doing yourself a favor. Taking care of yourself will not only bless and help you; it will be a blessing to the people who care about you. Because if you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to take care of anyone else. Always remember during difficult times that good times are on their way.

Prayer of the Day:

Lord, help me remember and find creative ways to take care of myself during times of stress and intense emotion.