“HOW TO HAVE A GOOD DAY” - Part II

Philippians 4:1-9

Last week we looked at some guidelines for having a good day. They were:

1. Begin your day by strengthening your confidence in the Lord.

2. Throughout your day be prepared to help those who have problems.

3. Throughout your day make your fellowship with the Lord a top priority.

Let’s continue:

4. Throughout your day concentrate on sustaining good relationships with others (v. 5). Learn to act, not react to hard situations. Work on learning to be tolerant and considerate. Treat others as you would like to be treated because the Lord is at hand! The immanence of His return should always condition the way we relate to others. If we knew this was going to be our last day on earth, would that change our actions in respect to others?

5. Throughout your day refuse to allow life’s circumstances and problems to imprison you (vv. 6,7). We are to worry about nothing. Worry dishonors God. Worry is choosing not to trust God. Worry robs us of peace and is a bad testimony. Instead of worrying about what we cannot do, we need to focus on what God can do (see Ephesians 3:20)! This does not mean a lack of concern about things we should be concerned about. It does mean that the Christian is not to allow problems over which we have no control to imprison us and hold us hostage.

Instead we are to pray about everything. Here is a case where prayer changes us, not necessarily our circumstances. Prayer and thanksgiving keep us free from the prison of worry. Prayer brings about a phenomenal peace that the mind cannot explain. It keeps us in the sense of the freedom of God’s presence.

6. Throughout the day guard your mind carefully (v. 8). Here is a further precaution against worry. We are to keep our minds occupied with things that are constructive (I Corinthians 2:16; Colossians 3:1-3).

If we follow these guidelines at the conclusion of the day we will be able to say, “the God of peace truly has been my companion today. This HAS been a good day!”

Have a good day! and a good week!! God bless.

Love to all.