Have you ever thought about how much control you have over your life?  Of course, things happen outside of your control which impact us, but we have the power to decide how we handle the things which come our way.

I preach and teach quite a bit on the decisions we make. Not just the decisions to sin or not, but also on other decisions.  I emphasize how much control we have over our thoughts, attitudes and feelings.  So  much of the quality of our lives is based on the state of mind we decide we are going to have.

²² The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. ²³ And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. ²⁴ Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. ²⁵ About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them (Acts 16:22-25 ESV).

Now,  U have never been imprisoned, stripped, or beaten.  I have never had my feet fastened in the stocks; my guess is neither have you.  But I have some really bad days.  Some really, really, really bad days.  I have also had days which weren’t overall bad, just aggravating.  Little things happen which get on my last nerve and put me on edge.  I snap at my wife and/or my kids, even though it’s not their fault.

How often in the midst of these things have I stopped, prayed, and sang a hym to God?  How about you?  We decide how we define our lives and our happiness.  Don’t let other people decide it for you.  – George Stewart © 2012