Overwhelmed? Need hope?

Keep my soul, and deliver me; let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You. Psalm 25:20-21

Keep: to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to
Soul: a breathing creature, life itself
Deliver: to snatch away, defend, escape—without fail
Ashamed: to be disappointed or delayed, be put to confusion
Put my trust: to flee for protection, have hope, make refuge
Integrity: completeness, morally innocence
Preserve: guard from dangers, to protect, maintain
Wait: look eagerly, to expect, vigilantly

Watch over my soul, and let me face shame and defeat UNASHAMED because You are my refuge. May honor and strong character keep me safe. VIGILANTLY I wait for You, hoping, trusting. Psalm 25:20-21 (VOICE)

Ever feel overwhelmed, like you are drowning? Can't catch your breath? When you feel like that, it's easy to be all consumed with fear and all-consuming depression. 
The Psalmist understood that feeling. That utter helplessness. But he also knew where to turn his attention — to God Almighty! The Psalmist would FLEE, RUN to God for protection, refuge and yes, even HOPE! The Psalmist vigilantly and eagerly waited on God. 

If you find yourself overwhelmed, run to God Almighty! He is a safe place of refuge and hope. Take comfort in God's safe arms knowing that He loves you and knows exactly what you are going through. Take comfort in God's love. 

Study of Psalm 119. Psalm 119:28

This continues the study of Psalm 119.  (Start the series here: http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2017/09/study-of-psalm-119-psalm-1191.html)

God Provides (by Rhonda Sawtelle)
Psalm 119: God's Word....

vs. 28: Provides Encouragement 

My soul melts from heaviness; strengthen me according to Your word. Psalm 119:28

Melts: to weep, pour out
Heaviness: depression (of spirits); concretely a grief, sorrow
Strengthen: confirm, establish, be upheld

My soul dissolves because of grief; renew and strengthen me according to [the promises of] Your word. Psalm 119:28 (AMP)

The idea of melting is not properly in the word, and the term weep would better express the meaning. His soul seemed to drop tears. It overflowed with tears. Yet there is an idea of abundant or constant weeping. It is not a gush of emotion, as when we say of one that he is “bathed in tears;” it is the idea of a steady flow or dropping of tears - slow, silent, but constant - as if the soul were dripping away or dissolving. Thus the idea is more striking and beautiful than that of melting. It is quiet but continuous grief that slowly wears away the soul. (Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible)

Depression and grief are all consuming. It's like a heavy weight has been set on you. You feel like you are drowning and can't come up for air. 

Strengthen: uphold, rise up, endure

When we find ourselves overwhelmed, we need to turn to God and His Word. We need to fill our minds with His word so that our thoughts are focused on 
"things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things." (Philippians 4:8) [For more on Philippians 4:8, start here: http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2016/07/thinking-effects-everything.html]

Will thinking on God's Word change your circumstances? No. Will thinking on God's Word remove your pain or frustration? No. 
So, why do it? Because what thinking on God's Word will do is give you a new perspective. You will focus on the facts of God. Remember God does not change. He was and is the same before you found yourself in the situation you are. He is still the same Almighty God that He was BEFORE whatever happened. In a life of uncertainty, ever-changing circumstances, God is the constant! 

If you find yourself melting, turn to the security of God Himself.

God’s Joy-Clothes!

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 30. Here is what I learned.

You changed my ·sorrow [mourning] into dancing. You took away my ·clothes of sadness [sackcloth], and clothed me in ·happiness [joy]. Psalm 30:11 (EXB)

You did it: You turned my deepest pains into joyful dancing; You stripped off my dark clothing and covered me with joyful light. Psalm 30:11 (VOICE)

You did it: you changed wild lament into whirling dance; You ripped off my black mourning band and decked me with wildflowers. Psalm 30:11 (MSG)

"Thou hast girded me with gladness." My "sackcloth" was but a loose garment about me, which might easily be put off at pleasure, but my "gladness" is girt about me, to be fast and sure, and cannot leave me though it would; at least none shall be able to take it from me. Sir Richard Baker

Observe the contrast, God takes away the mourning of his people; and what does he give them instead of it? Quiet and peace? Ay, and a great deal more than that. "Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing." He makes their hearts to dance at the sound of his name. He takes off their sackcloth. That is good. What a delight to be rid of the habiliments of woe! But what then? He clothes us. And how? With some common dress? Nay, but with that royal vestment which is the array of glorified spirits in heaven. "Thou hast girded me with gladness." This is better than to wear garments of silk or cloth of gold, bedight with embroidery and bespangled with gems. Many a poor man wears this heavenly apparel wrapped around his heart, though fustian and corduroy are his only outward garb; and such a man needs not envy the emperor in all his pomp. Glory be to thee, O God, if, by a sense of full forgiveness and present justification, thou hast enriched my spiritual nature, and filled me with all the fullness of God. The Treasury of David

What am I going to wear? Do I want to remain in the sadness and despair of sackcloth? Or do I want to be “girded” in happiness and ultimate joy? It’s a choice. I can choose to remain in the sadness and despair, or I can be dressed in God’s joy-clothes! 

One thing about God’s joy-clothes, they are the perfect outfit for any situation! You’ll always be styling in God’s joy-clothes! 

To create a positive day, I have to shed the clothes of sadness and despair and make sure that I am fully clothed in God’s Joy-Clothes!

Stormy Waters

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 61. Here is what I learned.

From the end of the earth will I call unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61:2 (ASV)

When I’m far from anywhere, down to my last gasp, I call out, “Guide me up High Rock Mountain!” Psalm 61:2 (MSG)

"When my heart is overwhelmed." Troubles are of various kinds; some are provoking, some are gnawing, some are perplexing, and some are overwhelming; but whatever form they assume, they are troubles, and are part of the wear and tear of life.... Overwhelming troubles are such as sweep over a man, just as the mighty billows of the ocean sweep over and submerge the sands. These are troubles which struggle with us, as it were, for life and death; troubles which would leave us helpless wrecks; troubles which enter into conflict with us in our prime, which grapple with us in our health and strength, and threaten to conquer us by sheer force, no matter how bravely we may contend. Such trouble the Psalmist knew. - Philip Bennett Power, in "The 'I wills' of the Psalms," 1861.

"Lead me to the rock that is higher than I." The language is very remarkable. It gives us the idea of a man suffering shipwreck. The vessel in which he has been sailing has sunk. He has been plunged into the mighty ocean; and there he is buffeting the waves, struggling for life, panting for breath, and just about to give up all for lost. Suddenly he discovers a rock towering above him. If he can but climb up to the top of it, and get sure footing upon it, the billows will not be able to reach him, and he will be safe. Now, the prayer in our text is the cry of that poor wretch for help. He is so spent and exhausted, that he cannot reach the rock himself. He shouts aloud for the friendly hand of some one stronger than himself, or for a rope that may be flung to him by those who are already safe on the rock, if by these helps he may gain it. "Lead me to the rock," cries the poor perishing wretch. "O, lead me, guide me, direct me to it; for I am so worn and spent, that I cannot reach it otherwise. I am at the point to die; and I must sink, and be no more seen for ever, if there is none to help me." Thus he calls for some one to rescue him from the deep, and to place him on the "rock," But what rock? He knows that unless the rock be a high one, he will not be in safety, though he should be on it. "The rock," he says, "must be higher than I, or the waves will reach me, and wash me off again." It is not a rock, the top of which just shows itself above the sea, no higher than a man's own body, that will save the life of a shipwrecked mariner. Such a rock may occasion the wreck, but it will not afford any help to the sufferers afterwards; it is a rock to split upon for destruction, not to stand upon for safety. "Lead me to the rock," or as it is in the Prayer-book version, "Set me upon the rock, that is higher than I!"... The text having shown us the danger of sin, does not leave us comfortless; it shows us the security of the refuge. We have before remarked, that the prayer of David, as a shipwrecked man, is, to be "led to," and set upon, a "rock," that is higher than himself. The expression seems to imply much. The rock that is higher than he, must be higher than any man; for David was a mighty monarch. He implies, therefore, that the refuge he seeks must be more than any "arm of flesh" can afford him; it must be therefore divine. - Condensed from a Sermon by Fountain Elwin, 1842.

So overwhelmed that I fell like I’m drowning in the stormy waters, and too weak to even grasp the life preserver. Yet, all I need to do is cry out to God and He will lift me up. No matter my troubles, no matter the depths of my despair, God in His mercy is ready to rescue me. 

To create a positive day, it’s not about me doing it on my own, especially when the stormy waters are swirling around me, rather, it’s about crying out to God and simply trust Him to lift me up. 

Why, "Create a Positive Day"?

My blog is called, "Create a Positive Day!" for a reason. I write about my life and how I deal with chronic pain. I've learned that the key to living with pain is keeping positive and I do that by keeping my focus on Jesus Christ. He is my source of joy. He promises joy and peace to His people, it's up to us to take hold of it.

I realize that living with chronic pain can be very depressing... but that is because we take our eyes off Christ and focus on our circumstances. It's just like Peter walking on the water during the storm. He was able to RISE above his circumstances when he focused on God. Once he looked at the storm and waves... he started sinking. He cried out to God, and God raised Him and put him in the boat.
That truth is vital for all Christians. When we continually look at and focus on our circumstances, we will sink deeper into depression and pain. However, if we change our focus to God, we can receive His love and joy and enjoy rising about our circumstances and share God's love with others. Yes, the pain remains; however, it's much easier to handle when our focus is on God.
How do we focus on God.... read and mediate on Scripture. Spend time praying....not just for yourself, but others. And then begin sharing God's love with others. The more you share God's love, you open yourself to receive more of His love.....His unconditional, unending love.
I know that some of you will say... but you don't live with my pain. No, I don't. I only know what my chronic pain feels like. But I do know my God. I do know what it is like to receive His unconditional love. And I do know that I'm happier when I focus on God and allow Him to use me to share His love with those around me.

This Christmas, don't think of all the things you can't do, or who you can't be with, or how depressing you feel. Rather, read the Christmas story... either Matthew 1:18 - 2:12; and/or Luke 2:1-20. Read it over and over.... focus on God and His love for you. Then spend time praying, thanking God for His love, for His gift of eternal life, and how He is working in your life. Then begin praying for others you know.
God has allowed some of us to travel a journey of pain and illness. Why? Because He wants us to share His story with others. He wants us to glorify God and let others see God through us. You see we have a VERY SPECIAL job. It's easy to love God and share His love when things are going great. But when others see we can still praise God and reach out to others in spite of our pain.... that's TRUE UNCONDITIONAL love!

We are special messengers!

 For those of you who don't live with chronic pain or illness... you still have a great message to share!

If you are feeling depressed or if your pain is overwhelming.... I challenge you to spend time in the Scriptures and change your focus. It will take some time, and you have to be willing to allow the Holy Spirit to begin working in your heart. But in time, you will realize just how much God loves you and how He wants you to share His love with those around you.

Our hope is not found in some cure—

rather our HOPE is God Himself!

We have an EVERLASTING HOPE!

May each of you have a VERY Merry Christmas as you focus on God and His amazing gift of love.

Create a positive day isn't just a phrase to me. It's my way of life. It's hard work to CREATE a positive day...but it's soooooooo worth it! The only way I can create a positive day is by focusing on God and His love for me.