God wants you to live an abundant life.  He doesn’t want you to just get by. He doesn’t want you to live an ordinary, average or mediocre life. No, He wants your days to be full of joy, enthusiasm and excitement. Here are 10 practical tips to get you on the road to a life full of a complete joy.

1. Devotion – Start your day off on the right foot. Have your prayer time with God. Study and meditate on His word. It’s great momentum for the rest of the day. And it can suit you better than any coffee, instant tea or hot chocolate ever can. It’s a sure way to build your day on a solid foundation.

2. Feed yourself – Studies show that you’re not you, when you’re hungry. You’re cranky, moody, irritable and on edge. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It gives you a boost of great energy. Having a healthy breakfast is a great way to start your day.

3. Smile – One of the greatest gifts God has given you is your smile. Nehemiah 8:10 says that the joy of the Lord is your strength. Wear your joy and wear it well. Studies show that when you smile, you’re subconsciously communicating to yourself that everything is going to be okay. Make a decision to smile, it’s a win-win. Not only are you benefiting yourself but you’re bringing joy to another person’s day by being a light in a dark world.

4. Build up another – A great way to bring joy to a sad time is to build up another person. Encourage someone today. Tell someone they are the apple of God’s eyes. Let them know they are blessed and highly favored of the Lord. Remind them that they are God’s most prized possession.

5. Exercise – One of the greatest stress relievers is physical fitness. It doesn’t take much. Some experts say just a few minutes of physical exercise per day is a great way to relieve stress. In doing so, your body is releasing natural chemicals that give you a sense of complete joy and well being.

6. Do a Good Deed – Much of what Jesus did while he was here on earth was simply do good deeds. In Acts 10:38, Peter makes reference to John’s preaching about how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good… One of the greatest ways to bring joy to your day is by simply “doing good.” Think of one good deed you can do for a friend and do it. You’ll be surprised at how much joy there is in putting others ahead of yourself. Remember, you reap what you sow. God will turn around and bless you in return.

7. Think good thoughts – When you go around focused on the negative, you’re robbing yourself of joy, peace, and wholeness. God’s Word says to think about things that are virtuous, noble and excellent. Think on things that are pure, things that are of a good report and worthy of praise. When you meditate and think on good things the Lord will satisfy your day with increase, favor, joy and peace.

8. Express gratitude – I always like to say, “when you complain, you remain. When you express gratitude, you change your altitude.” Count your blessings. Express your gratitude and look for the Lord to open up doors of opportunities and enlarge your territory!

9. Get plenty of rest – This is a hard one for the ‘go getters’ to swallow, but the truth is we must get plenty of rest. When you get the proper amount of rest you’ll wake up refreshed, energized and ready to face your brand new day with excitement. It also impacts your attitude.

10. Rinse and repeat – Be consistent. Make it a lifestyle. Don’t just do it once. No, results come with consistency. Shake off the burdens of the day. Leave your cares with the Lord. Wake up the next day, wipe the slate clean and do it all over again. When you do so you’ll find increasing joy in every area of your life as you charge forth on your journey!

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I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:13

Thomas Edison was one of the most brilliant inventors of all time. He was an inventor of many things that changed the world. The light-bulb was one which has a significant impact on us today.

I read where it was reported that Edison had nearly nine-thousand failed attempts at inventing the light-bulb. I would imagine that he got discouraged along the way. He probably felt like throwing in the towel.

But yet he had the courage, drive and determination to bring his invention to completion. He gave up at no end.

One day, he finally came into the success of completing the light-bulb. What I find interesting is afterwards, he was asked how it felt to have had nine-thousand failed attempts at creating the light bulb? He responded, “it felt great, for every time, I learned a way NOT to create the light bulb.”

I’m sure Edison lost hope along the way. I’m sure he had critics and naysayers saying, “Edison, it’s no use.” “Why don’t you just give it up? All the odds are in your favor.”

But Edison understood this principle. He understood that with great successes comes many failures. He knew that there were lessons in his failures.

What are those many failed attempts that you’ve thrown along the wayside? What about those unfulfilled dreams and visions that you’ve let go?

Let me encourage you today- there are endless possibilities. Just like Edison, you can come into your season of success if you don’t lose heart. You’ll reap your harvest of blessings if you don’t give up.

God has given you everything you need to accomplish anything you want. Just like Edison, you can learn from your failures. Let them serve as lessons to catapult you to your destiny.

Let your declaration be, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” No matter what your lot, no matter how impossible it might seem, know that with Christ there is a way.

I heard a wise man once say, “Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done.” Maybe you could be one of the ones to prove a naysayer wrong. Maybe you could be one of the ones to do what the masses said can’t be done. Who knows, like Edison, if you’re persistent and you don’t lose heart, you can prosper in ways that will change the world for centuries to come. Find the lessons in your failures.

Rely on the seeds of greatness that are on the inside. God has given you all the tools you need to succeed. He’s given you determination, drive, motivation, perseverance, persistence and favor. When you tap into these God-given ingredients, he’ll cause you to prosper in more ways than you know as you charge forth on your journey of life!

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“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” – 2 Timothy 1:6

Every person has been blessed with gifts down deep on the inside. Whether you know it or not, God has granted you with special  treasures that no other person has.

You have talents and abilities that will take you further than you can ever imagine. I encourage you to take these gifts and put them to work for you. Don’t let them lye dormant. No, fan the flame. Stir up the gifts that are inside of you.

I grew up as a musician. I been playing drums since I was nine years old. And if you heard me play, you might think that I was naturally born with the gift. You may think that I came out of the womb making music.

But there are other gifts that took years for me to discover. My talent for playing drums was discovered when I was nine. But it wasn’t until I was much older, that I discovered my ability to encourage and motivate. Along the same lines, I discovered that I had a special skill for writing as well.

In the same way, God has placed special gifts inside of you that have yet to be discovered. Sure, some were born with a natural talent for some things, but other skills weren’t discovered until a much later age.

I’m asking you, what are those passions that you have yet to tap into? Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn a sport but you never applied yourself. Maybe you’ve had a passion for the arts but never ventured out into the field. Maybe you sing in the shower but would love to sing on the big stage. Dare to venture out. Find a local vocal coach and inquire about lessons. Stop by the local YMCA and find out about sporting leagues in your area. Find a local art gallery in your neighborhood and inquire about art training.

I always hear people say, “I’ve always wanted to learn to play drums, but I never took lessons.” Or they’ll say, “when I’m watching a band, I’m always looking at the drummer, wishing I could play.” My friends, this is how you know that you have a gift. It’s starts as a tiny flame. The more you let that gift lye dormant, the dimmer the flame gets.

I’m encouraging you today to not allow the flame to grow dim, but to fan the flame. Stir up the gifts on the inside. If you have a passion or desire for something, go after it. If you have an urge to learn a new talent, apply yourself.

The scripture says that a man’s gift will make room for him and bring him before great men. When you apply yourself, and stir up the gifts that God has given you, He’ll bring you into places that you never dreamed possible. And you will live a more fulfilled and purposeful life as you charge forth on your journey!

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Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. – 1 John 3:18

God’s Word commands us to be doers of the Word, and not hearers only. It’s not enough to just read and meditate on the Word of God. Instead, we must obey it through our actions.

Just like a minister at church on Sunday morning, we’re all preaching a lifelong sermon. Whether it’s a positive message or a negative one, you’re preaching a message.

It’s up to us to lead by example. God doesn’t want us to live by the “do what I say and not what I do” creed. No, He wants us to set a positive example. He wants us to show love. He wants us to be the light of the World.

You have more influence than you know. So make a decision to set a positive example through your actions.

Sure, our words do have power. You can talk someone in or out of doing something. But in the long term they’re going to look at your actions.

A wise person once said, “preach always and use words only when necessary.” Remember, your actions always speak louder than your words.

Children are like a sponge. And It’s interesting how they pick up the behaviors of their parents, siblings, friends and other surrounding people. A perfectly good child can be raised in a good environment and have all good behaviors instilled in him, but if he starts hanging around the wrong crowd, he will start to develop wrong behaviors. Why? Because someone else is preaching a message– not through words, but through actions. A village will raise a child.

In the same way, you have influence. You have the choice to preach a good sermon through your actions or a bad sermon. You can preach love or hate. You can preach encouragement or discouragement. You can preach positivity or negativity, it’s your choice.

Make a choice to preach a good message into the lives of others. When you do so, God will reward you in many ways 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. Also be sure to follow Optimistic Journey on Facebook and Twitter:

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“… No bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep.” – Matthew 10:10

Before you we’re formed in the womb, God knew you and set you apart. He’s had great plans for you since the beginning.

He’s given you everything you need to fulfill the mission that He’s called you to do. So when you go forth on the mission that He has destined for you, leave the baggage behind.

No need to pack a bag. Don’t worry about the necessities. No, God will supply all your needs along the way. Just go forth on the divine assignment He has for you.

Don’t bring the unnecessary baggage from your past into the next season of your life. No, leave the past in the past. Wipe the slate clean and start anew on the journey ahead.

Too often, we try to take matters into our own hands. We try to figure out what we think we need for the journey. And consequently, all that ends up doing is weighing us down. And in the end we grow weary, tired and end up forfeiting the mission we’re called to do.

But know today that you can leave your bag with Christ. The scripture says to cast your care on Him, for He cares for you.

I think about a runner who runs a marathon. It’s recommended that they drink plenty of water when performing in such extreme circumstances. But the athlete knows that He can’t carry a bottled water in his hand for the duration of the race. That would be a burden.  But here’s the thing, the athlete doesn’t worry about water. Why? Because He knows there is water supplied along the sidelines of the race.

In the same way, God doesn’t want you to carry useless baggage along the way. It will only weigh you down and make the your run more difficult. If you’ll just cast your cares on God and leave your baggage with Him, He’ll make sure you have everything you need to successfully complete your journey!

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I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. – Psalm 139:14

God made no mistakes when He created you. Every personality trait, every feature – every setback, imperfection, talent, and gift that you have was destined and purposed by the almighty God. He was intentional when He created you.

Many times, we find ourselves trying to change the very person God intended for us to be. What you think is a setback, is really what God designed to set you apart. That feature that you want to change is what makes you unique.

You may look in the mirror and see a characteristic that you want to change, but someone else is looking at you and wishing they had that trait. You may see all your downfalls, but someone else sees your potential. You may see your failures, but someone else sees your successes. You may see your imperfections, but someone else sees your perfections.

God wants you to be confident in who He created you to be. You’re who you are for a purpose. You are fearfully and wonderfully made by the God, the creator of the universe.

I heard a wise person once say, “be yourself, everyone else is taken.” The truth is, other people are not looking at your setbacks as much as they’re looking at how you embrace them. They’re looking at how you make your disadvantages work in your favor. People are drawn to you when, despite your shortcomings and imperfections, you walk boldly and confidently- proud of who God created you to be. People won’t accept you until you first accept yourself.

So put your shoulders back. Stand tall, lift up your head. Embrace who you are. God has placed a gift inside of you that He has given no other. He’s placed treasures deep inside. These seeds of greatness on the inside will cause you to flourish in ways no other person can, if you let them. No one can be a better you than you can, so be the best you possible and watch as you grow more into yourself 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. Also be sure to follow Optimistic Journey on Facebook and Twitter:

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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!

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I once saw a sign that says, “man plans but God laughs.” Although there is no scripture that directly correlates this saying, I do believe God has a sense of humor.

Often times, we think we know the right way but God’s way is the better way. He has the master plan already laid out. He’s just waiting for us to submit to Him.

When things don’t go our way or we think we’re not hearing from God, we tend to take matters into our own hands. But Proverbs 3:5-6 says to “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all of your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

‘My friend, God knows the end from the beginning. He knows what’s best for you. He has your best interests at heart. Jeremiah 1:5 says that before you were formed in the womb God knew you, before you were born God set you apart.

Know today that God has a plan for you. He’s got your destiny mapped out. When you try to take matters into your own hand, you’re only complicating the matter for yourself. When you try your own way, essentially, you’re just furthering yourself from your own destiny. You’re causing further delays and difficulties for the journey.

God knows everything that you do before you do it, and He has planned everything accordingly. Don’t make matters worse. Submit to His plan and His will for your life.

Pray that His will be done in every area of your life. When you pray this prayer, not only will you see your way, but you’ll gain understanding as you charge forth on your journey of life!

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Photo credit: by doortoriver

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Music is one of the greatest gifts that God has given us. And there are certain types of music that can change our day for the better.

For some, music has the ability to make them dance. For others, it makes them happy. We even find ourselves relaxing and letting go of the cares of the day, when certain other types of music is being played.

Music is so powerful it even has healing abilities. I heard how surgeons play music during surgery operations.

When we go to church, one of the first things we do as a congregation is sing a song of praise and thanksgiving unto the Lord. It is our praise that sets the tone for the service and for the day.

One of the greatest ways to give God praise and thanksgiving is through a song of praise. And when you sing praises in your heart, just like worship service, it sets the tone for the day. Amazing things start to happen.

Photo by Eduardo DeboniA read in the book of 1st Samuel about how when the Lord sent a tormenting spirit on king Saul, he would often call on David to come and play the harp. Whenever David played the harp, the tormenting spirit would leave Saul.

Another great amazing thing happened in Acts 16:25, where Paul and Silas were locked up in jail. It says that at midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymn songs to the Lord. And suddenly, there was a massive earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken, and every prisoner’s bands were loosed.

You too, can do the same thing. If there’s an area in your life that’s bound up and needs to be set free- If there’s an area where there is torment, turmoil, or uneasiness, you can sing a praise song to the Lord and watch amazing things happen. You can even listen to a praise and worship song, and before you know it miracles will start to happen in your life.

I love what the Psalmist says in Psalm 92:1. He says, “It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High God.”

My friend, the good news is that there is music all around us. You see, back in King Saul’s time he didn’t have iPods, stereos, or the internet at his disposal. But today, we have the convenience at the push of a button.

When you wake up in the morning, put on a song of praise. Declare your worship to the Lord. When you do so, you’ll set a better tone for your day and amazing things will happen as you charge forth on your journey of life!

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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!

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Photo credit: by Dj Xia

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