Barack: You told me all those years ago that you couldn’t promise me the world, but you could promise me an interesting life. Of course, you outdid yourself and managed to give me both.
Eight years in the crucible, and not once did you melt from the heat. Not once did you let it harden you. Instead, you used it to reveal your truest essence: your stubborn optimism and unflinching courage, your dazzling brilliance and unpretentious decency, your ferocious work ethic and absolutely unshakable moral fiber.
The enemy would love to get us distracted fighting battles that don’t matter. You don’t have time to waste responding to people who are never going to be for you. Don’t spend your valuable time dealing with a weed. Ignore the weeds.
If you’re worrying, if you’re praying from a place of doubt, defeat, “God, why is this happening? When is it going to work out?” That’s going to limit you. Pray from a place of victory. Pray what God promised you.
Paul said in Philippians 4, “I have learned how to be content whatever situation I’m in." He was saying, “Whether I have a lot or a little, whether people are treating me right or wrong, whether my plans have worked out or they haven’t, I’m still going to be happy. I’m still going to keep my joy.” Your happiness is not based on your circumstances; it’s based on a decision.
There are blessings and burdens in every season. You’ll never get to the place where all the burdens are gone and all you have are blessings. If you’re waiting for the burdens to leave and then you’ll be happy, you’ll be waiting your whole life. Part of learning to be content is to focus on the blessings and not the burdens.
Your future is in God’s hands. You don’t have to figure it all out. Your job is to keep God first. Use your gifts and talents to honor Him. Then, He promises that He will add everything you need.
God always gives us a warning. Don’t override it. When He asks you to do something, it’s for your own good. If you’ll let go of the wrong people, then God will send the right people: people who will make you better, people who will inspire you, people who will push you into your destiny.
Whether you realize it or not, you’re manufacturing something. Your thoughts are producing more like-minded thoughts. If you dwell on a positive thought, your mind will bring you ten more. If you find a reason to complain, your mind will give you a dozen more things to complain about. You’re creating mental momentum. Make sure your mind is going in the right direction.
Don't have a weak, defeated mentality. “I can’t handle this. It’s too much.” Have a new perspective. “Yes, I’m hurting, but still I rise. Yes, it looks bad, but still I believe. Yes, I’m outnumbered, but still I trust. Still I move forward. Still I dream. Still I expect the goodness of God.”
Be that friend with faith. Push someone else into their destiny. Lift someone who has fallen and doesn’t have the strength to get back up. There’s nothing more rewarding than helping someone else move forward. You can’t give something away that God won’t give you more back in return.
Praise is what’s going to cause it to turn around. While you’re waiting for things to change, believing for breakthroughs, that’s when more than ever, you need to give God praise. Praise activates His power.
Your will is more powerful than your feelings. You have to say to discouragement, “I will rejoice.” Say to self-pity, “I will be glad today.” Say to sadness, to no passion, “You’re not going to control my life.”
Next time something negative happens, just remind yourself: it’s a bad moment. It doesn’t have to turn into a bad day, a bad month. Don’t let it linger. It’s not supposed to ruin your day. Let it go and move on. When you lie down at night, you need to be able to say, “This was a good day. God, I thank You."