Look for the Good

Pere Marquette Beach on Lake Michigan, Muskegon, MI

by Teresa Taylor-Williams

“I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1

Panic. Anxiety. Fear.
Life right now is unpredictable. Much is out of our hands.
But we can control how we respond.
How many of us think to thank the Lord for His goodness in the midst of our trials? Do we ever consider praising Him in our lowest moments?
He didn’t promise that we would live without adversity.
But He did say that He would be with us (Hebrews 13:5), that He would fight our battles for us (Joshua 23:10), and charges us to praise Him in the midst of trials.
How? This can be as simple as showing Him gratitude, saying "Thank You, Lord."
I’m choosing to focus on the good things. The chirping birds that woke me up today.Spending time with my  93-year-old grandmother. Hearing about homebound families sharing educational materials for the children. People preparing and delivering food to college students and the elderly…all of this warms my heart. I'm thankful for things like this, for they are pleasant distractions from our current reality. Thank You, God.
I also choose to delve into His Word to read about how He saved and delivered many from the hand of the enemy.
I dare you to try, just for today, to focus on the good. To be mindful, purposeful, and to thank God for breath, for another day, and for strength to endure the unknown.

“Praise is what I do, when I wanna be close to You…and I vow to praise You, through the good and the bad. I’ll praise You, whether happy or sad, I’ll praise You in all that I go through, because praise is what I do, and I owe it all to you.” Shekiinah Glory feat. William Murphy III