Correct settings for the New Year.

When something in your world goes haywire, to what do you default? Sure, your computer has default settings, your brain has a default mode network, but do you - one that keeps you emotionally upright when the world seems to have turned upside down? One that keeps its faith, even when shaken, but does not lose itself?

Let's talk. Our California economy is stuttering at best; hospitals over crowded, some people sick and others are losing their businesses ... chaos in Washington, D.C. . . . and to top it off, many of our churches are closed! As I have said before when life threw a terribly unfair curveball, ‘It just isn’t supposed to go like this, is it?'

"These are the times that try men's souls,"# so you need to check what you tell yourself during some of these tough times. Aware of the stress and strain, perhaps you try to make yourself feel better by getting drunk or high; you grab your shoes and go for a long, punishing run; you drive, you pray, you think and you cry; you crawl in bed, pull the covers over your head, and go to sleep, maybe something else.

When your computer has a failure, you might lose your personal settings and even valued material, but at least you still retain the basic framework that allows you to rebuild. Friends, we need a default mode, especially as children of God—otherwise, we may go sideways when tragedy strikes—‘you know what I mean? Whether or not we turn to God in prayer and look to him as our Rock is dependent on us having and maintaining a basic framework from which we will not be shaken.

I default to these things--perhaps they will help you too! Truth is always helpful.

Because I am a child of God, I will choose to remember:

~>¨God loves me, and he is faithful. His heart toward me is always GOOD.

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness…The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” Lamentations 3.22,23,25,26

Read it again.

~>¨Whatever tragedy or trauma has occurred in your life has not caught God off guard.

How do I know that? Because God never slumbers nor sleeps! Psalm 121.4

During difficult times, to whom or what will you turn for direction and for comfort? The choice is, of course, yours . . . you alone can choose your response.

~>¨Every time heartbreak enters your life, you have an opportunity to turn to God, for him to comfort, bring peace and effect change

Remember that God’s heart toward you is good, that he loves you, and then you can maintain an attitude of praise toward him—as Job said,

“The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job 1.21

‘But I cannot do it,’ the daughter screams in her agony, ‘neither can I,’ the sister of the killed brother sobs . . . and so go the responses.

While it seems impossible, you can turn to God for help~ and claim the truth that,

“I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength" Philippians 4:13

And, then what?

~>¨Turn to God for direction and wisdom

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; don’t just trust your own thinking. Proverbs 3.5

Ask God for wisdom, and he will give it to you. Period. Then, believe he has and is giving you the wisdom you require for next steps in your situation.

Is that all? Of course not, but these compile a great framework for Christians to access. One more thing—

~>¨

Jesus said it well, “Do not worry about tomorrow for it has cares enough of its own.” Matthew 6.34

God will give you strength for today; his grace is sufficient.

‘Want to radically change your viewpoint right down to your individual thoughts and responses? Memorize these Scriptures. Then you have them in the middle of the night or when you're driving down the road, and no one or no thing can take them from you. Write out the verses on a card and carry it with you until you’ve got it down.

When 9-11 happened, life changed irreparably. Similarly, the changes that 2020 brought to our lives, our confidence and our sense of security have markedly changed things yet again. So rather than go weak in the knees, remember that your trust is in God and he is faithful--the framework of your default mode. Run to him; he does not disappoint. Yep, yep the correct setting for the New Year must be a mode that reboots the truth of a mighty God in your life. You're stronger than you think.

A song: We Praise You, Matt Redman - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEuLy1cxByU

God is FOR you,

Christine

PastorWoman.com

# - Thomas Payne-December 23, 1776