As part of one of the best talks I have heard him deliver, our pastor mentioned something on Sunday that has given me much food for thought. He spoke about us having “response – ability” – the power to choose how we react to what happens to us.

I know a lot of people (and I am often one) who choose to let their circumstances dictate their mood. They (I) would not like me saying that, because they feel they have no choice at all. But this is not the case.

We can all choose how we respond to what happens around us.
Dave Meyer (the preacher Joyce’s husband) was recently playing a round of golf. At the end of it he got in his car which refused to start. He phoned the recovery people who said they would be an hour. Instead of getting stressed about it, he decided he was going to enjoy that wait. So went back onto the course and played another round of golf.

How would you have reacted? Would you have sat in the car feeling stressed? Or called someone to moan and complain?

How do you react when something bad happens? Do you mentally list it as another grievance in your mind? “That’s the second bad thing that’s happened today!” Or do you allow God to give you His peace and strength to react differently?

There is power in what we say over ourselves. If we say, “I can’t do anything! I am weak! I am helpless, hopeless, friendless and powerless!” Then we truly will be. We will not accept any help when it comes and we will not even recognise God’s voice or His assistance when He sends it.

If we call out to the Lord and declare some scriptural truth over ourselves, we will be “more than conquerors!” If we choose to say “God is going to work in this situation for my good! He is going to show me more of His character. He is at work to bring glory from this. His heart is for me! Who can be against me? Even though I walk through darkness, I will fear no evil. For He is with me, His goodness and mercy are chasing me! His perfect love for me is casting out all my fear. I don’t have to lean on my own understanding of this situation but I can trust in Him with all my heart…”

Can you see how these words bring life and hope and peace and the ability to have a renewed mind?!

I was very challenged yesterday when I noticed a huge leak on the ceiling of our playroom. My first thought was “Oh no! Another huge expense we have to bear on this monster of a house that eats all our money!”

But I woke this morning and was reminded that God gave us this house. It is on “Hope Road” and it is a place of trust and hope and faith. Therefore, I know I can choose a different response to the leak. I can say, “Thank you God that You will show yourself to me in this. Thank you that You have promised to provide for me and our family. Thank you that I can trust in you to help us and hold us during this time.”

We all have ‘response ability.’

Don’t let your mind tell you lies today!