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Living With a Challenge

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do."¹

A few years ago a dear friend was diagnosed with cancer. It was not an encouraging diagnosis. In the months ahead even when she was going through chemo therapy treatment and was very sick, she always had a positive outlook and often said, "I'm living with cancer, not dying of cancer."

Sad to say, in due course the cancer took her. However, her positive outlook made her final days much brighter because of her upbeat attitude.

I have a close family member who is bi-polar, which caused him many struggles in the past. He felt this was a problem that made life discouraging. My goal was to encourage him to change his thinking from, "I'm living with a problem" to "I'm living with a challenge."

If we change our attitude it can change our life. The reality is that we eventually become what we think about. If I keep thinking I have a problem that is holding me back, I will end up believing this and act accordingly.

No wonder the Bible teaches us to guard our heart, which applies to our thinking, our feelings, and our actions. If my thoughts are constantly negative, my emotions will become negative, and my actions will be self-defeating. As the King James Version of the Bible advises: "Keep your heart with all diligence."

So … if you have a problem—one that you have to live with—think of it this way, "I'm living with a challenge … and with God's help I will overcome."

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for the principles you teach in your Word. Please help me to apply them to my life and help me to turn my challenge into something that will be a blessing and help to others. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Proverbs 4:23 (NLT).

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