What you expose yourself to is the course that your life will take. Day in and day out, we’re exposed to a lot. There is so much grabbing our attention.

From the people we hang out with, to the music we listen to and the shows we watch, there are a lot of influences that can either help or hurt us.

That’s why it’s important for us to guard what goes on the inside. I love the way Proverbs 4:23 puts it. It urges us to guard our heart with all diligence, for everything we do flows from it.

It’s hard to totally block everything that comes at you on a daily basis. But for much of the time, you can control a great majority of what goes in.

Let me encourage you today. Guard your ear gate and your eye gate. Choose to listen to something that is uplifting. Watch something that’s encouraging and inspiring. Read a good book. Open up the Bible and meditate on a scripture.

Don’t expose yourself to something that’s going to tear you down. Don’t listen to something that’s going to discourage you and influence you in a negative way. Make a choice to watch something that’s going to build you up.

You may be familiar with a quote that simply says, “trash in, trash out.” This says it all. When you put trash on the inside, it’s going to be reflective in your interactions with others. If you listen to music that’s degrading and is an overall bad influence, it’s going to affect you in one way or another. When you watch movies that promote violence, negativity, and immorality then it’s going to affect your decisions and bring the same out of you.

Make a choice to guard your heart. Watch what you allow to enter your eyes and ears. Listen to something that’s going to promote empowerment and positivity. Then, the course of your life will take a turn for the better as you charge forth on your journey!

If you liked this article, be sure to share it on Twitter and Facebook. If reading this article via email, forward it to a friend. Also, click here to visit the site. Leave a comment and participate in the online community. Also be sure to follow Optimistic Journey on Facebook and Twitter:

Optimistic Journey on Facebook

@JarrodInspires on Twitter

Related Posts

• September 26, 2011 -- Change The Channel (2)

God’s Word instructs us to do good to all people. But along the journey, you’re going to come across some critics and naysayers that will doubt your good works.

Unfortunately, there will be some who, instead of looking for the best in you are ready to point out your flaws, imperfections and shortcomings. They’re wondering if you’re too good to be true. They’re waiting for your down fall.

But regardless, do what you know is right. God’s word says we are Christ ambassadors. That means we are to do the good works that Jesus commands us to.

Sow a good seed to someone who is in need. Be a good Samaritan. Do a good deed not out of an ulterior motive or to be seen, no, do it because it’s the work of the Father.

Give without expecting anything in return. Show unconditional love to another just for the sake of being a good light- and because it’s the number one commandment of the Lord. Forgive like there is no tomorrow. Be kind, gracious and generous when the opportunities present itself.

Now, there will be those who will tell you, “it’s pointless to do a good deed, what have they done for you?” or “why be so kind? It shows weakness…”

No, let this be your rebuttal- Number one: God’s love is unconditional. It’s not based on a pay up front basis. It’s not based on how good you are, it’s based purely on His love, mercy and grace toward you!

Number two: the scripture says in 1 Corinthians chapter 2 that the good news of the cross is “foolishness” to the world. But here’s the truth- real wisdom comes from the Holy Spirit. God’s Word tells us to forgive an enemy. But to the world, that is “foolishness.”

You can either live by the world’s wisdom and be doomed or follow God’s wisdom and commands and have everlasting life. Be a light. Be the example that others need to see.

Let me encourage you today, you are not too good to be true. You are the real deal! Know who you are and whose you are. You’re a child of the most high God. You have God’s truths on the inside. Now, go forth and do good to all people and watch the Lord reward you in many ways as you charge forth on your journey!

If you liked this article, be sure to share it on Twitter and Facebook. If reading this article via email, forward it to a friend. Also, click here to visit the site. Leave a comment and participate in the online community. Also be sure to follow Optimistic Journey on Facebook and Twitter:

Optimistic Journey on Facebook

@JarrodInspires on Twitter

Related Posts

• October 10, 2010 -- Love Covers A Multitude (1)
• June 26, 2011 -- His Mercies Are New Every Morning (1)
• February 16, 2012 -- Do Good Toward all People (2)
• January 9, 2012 -- Jesus the Same Yesterday, Today and Forevermore! (4)
• December 28, 2011 -- God’s Grace is Sufficient (0)

We serve a God who fulfills all of His promises. Everything He says, He brings to pass. And the scripture says that we’ve been made in His likeness. As ambassadors for Christ, we should strive to be people of integrity. We should be people of respect and dignity.

In your everyday life, make it a point to walk the talk.  Be a person of your word. When you make a promise you should stand behind it. God not only wants us to be in right standings with Him,  but He wants us to be in right standings with the people around us.

Aim to be a person of integrity and stand behind your word. Don’t just talk the talk, no, you have to walk the walk. If you honor your word, people will honor you. And more importantly, God will honor you.

When you’re honored by God, He causes His divine favor to reign over you. He then causes you to triumph in every area of your life.

I heard a great saying. “Preach always and use words only when necessary.” How do you do this? It’s simply done by letting your actions do the talking. You do it by living a honorable life full of integrity.

If you say you’re going to do something, do it. Maybe you’re asked to attend an event. If you promise to be there, stand on your promise. Maybe you’ve opted in to be at a certain place at a certain time, try to honor that. It’s hard to regain your integrity once it’s been lost.

People are not always listening to what you say as much as they’re looking at what you do. They’re looking to see if you’ll follow through with your word.

It would be a sad story if God, the creator of the universe, had failed promises. But in the same way that God hasn’t fallen back on His word, don’t go back on yours.

Your actions speak louder than your words. So make a point to walk the walk and not just talk the talk. When you do so, God will honor you and cause you to rise to a higher dimension as you charge forth on your journey of life!

If you liked this article, be sure to share it on Twitter and Facebook. If reading this article via email, forward it to a friend. Also, click here to visit the site. Leave a comment and participate in the online community.

Related Posts

• January 5, 2012 -- Preach Always, Use Words Only when Necessary (0)
• April 30, 2012 -- Take Bold Steps of Faith! (2)
• December 28, 2011 -- God’s Grace is Sufficient (0)
• December 14, 2011 -- You’ve Got the “IT” Factor! (1)
• July 10, 2011 -- Make Positive Declarations (0)

As children of the most High God, we’re called to a higher level of love. We’re to be a light and set an example. When we confess to being Christians, people naturally expect more of us. They’re looking to see if we’re not only talking the talk, but that we’re walking the walk.

Being a light in a dark world isn’t just a part-time job. It’s not something that we do 8-5 then take off the apron, sigh a big sigh, and then go be mean to people. Walking in the love of Christ isn’t just in our daily job description, no it’s a way of life.

It’s something we do day in and day out. Whether you’re at church or at the job- whether you’re at school or on vacation, you should always operate in the love of Christ.

I think of people whose everyday job is to serve the public. Naturally as long as they’re on the clock, it’s in there job description to greet the people- to be kind, smile, and be friendly. As a part of their job description, they’re required to go out of their way to make sure the customer’s needs are met. For them, the customer always comes first. But as soon as they’re off the clock, as soon as they walk out the door, they’re no longer required to operate in kindness, or to smile or to be friendly.

But as ambassadors for Christ, we are not part-time servers. No, we’re called to always be a light in the world. It’s not just in our job description, it’s a way of life. We should always be joyful and friendly. We shouldn’t be self-seeking. Instead, we should love our neighbors and do good to others.

When you wake up in the morning, make a decision that you’ll look for ways to bless others. Let this be a part of your everyday life. When you do this, not only will God get all the glory, but you will get immediate gratification as you charge forth on your journey of life!

If you liked this article, be sure to share it on Twitter and Facebook. If reading this article via email, forward it to a friend. Also stop by the site, leave a comment and participate in the online community.

Photo credit: by Dj Xia

Related Posts

• August 4, 2011 -- A Light in a Dark World (0)
• January 26, 2012 -- God Abides With Us (0)
• April 26, 2012 -- Too Good to Be True? (1)
• January 5, 2012 -- Preach Always, Use Words Only when Necessary (0)
• November 22, 2011 -- Maybe You Could be One of the Ones… (Compassion for a Good Cause) (2)

Were given many choices in life. When we come to a fork in the road, we have the choice to go either left or right. When we come to a crossroad, we can either turn around, go left, right, or keep straight ahead.

Naturally, we will make decisions that make us feel the most comfortable at the time. We feel that whatever makes us comfortable is the decision to make. When in actuality, the comfortable decision isn’t always the right decision.

In other words, the decision that’s pleasing to the flesh isn’t always the decision that God wants you to make. He want you to be a person of integrity. He wants you to make decisions that have an overall positive impact on life.

In every aspect of your life, you should want to do what is right. But it’s often easier said than done. Sometimes, doing what is right is putting others first for a change. Doing what is right is going home to study when your friends want to go party.

Doing what is right may mean saving money rather than spending it on that dress down at the corner shop. It may mean arriving to work ten minutes early so that you’re working by eight o clock on the dot. Doing what is right may mean eating a salad rather than something that’s fattening. What’s right could mean helping a neighbor carry in the groceries.

When making the decision to do whats right it may put us out of our comfort zone and that’s natural. But know that in the long run those right decisions that you make will have a better impact on your life and the life of another. Make a decision today to do what is right as you charge forth on your journey of life!

If you liked this article, be sure to share it on Twitter and Facebook. If reading this article via email, forward it to a friend. Also stop by the site, leave a comment and participate in the online community.

Related Posts

• April 23, 2012 -- Vlogisode #3 – Launch Out Into the Deep (Video) (0)
• February 22, 2012 -- Take the Other Route (1)
• September 14, 2011 -- Take Bigger Risks (0)
• August 19, 2011 -- Don’t Limit Yourself (0)
• July 30, 2010 -- Learn To Accept Change (1)