Prayer Journal #11

  "Father, help me not to dread anything, but to have a positive attitude toward everything I do. In Jesus' name...Amen."

 This is the prayer that accompanied the daily devotion today. 

At first when I read the title of the devotion, I thought it was going to be a depressing type of read.  The scripture was not one that seemed peppy and encouraging.  However, as I read through Joyce's narrative, I found that I really needed to read this today.

This morning I woke up with a feeling of dread.  Yes, I really did.  That happens to me sometimes, and it concerns me.  I really have no reason to dread a day.  I slept well last night.  Gary and I have plans to run some errands and find a good place for lunch.  Then we are going to the VBS program tonight. Neither of us are sick.  We have plenty of money so that isn't an issue.  We have food in the freezer and pantry.  We love our house and property.  We have new floors and a new window and patio door.  I have plenty of sewing projects to keep me busy.  He has a new mower to use when the grass needs some attention.  Our girls are closeby and we see the kiddos frequently.  There really is nothing to dread, to be anxious about, or items for concern.

So I guess I really needed to read this on this sunny June morning.

Joyce reminded me that I need to focus on the positive, which I hadn't been.  It is one of my 'words of the year' and here I am, not feeling it. 

Joyce reminded me that being negative affects more than what I realize.  It sucks joy out of my life.  It affects others around me.  It keeps me from being positive (duh!). And there is a fine line between dread and fear.  I didn't like that.  A fine line between dread and fear. 

A shake up is what I need to day.  A shift to the positive, to being happy, to having more joy in my life.

Praying this again (and I have already done it several times this morning) will help.  Maybe memorizing it would be a good idea?  

"Father, help me not to dread anything, but to have a positive attitude toward everything I do. In Jesus' name...Amen."