experience an extraordinary life must
learn how to strengthen themselves
in the Lord by listening to the voice of
God.
“
Bad days are
inevitable, but they
do not have to last
forever.”
Here are some practical things you
can do to strengthen yourself in the
Lord when you experience a bad day.
First, dedicate a time and place where
you get alone with God. It doesn’t matter
whether it’s the morning or evening,
there needs to be a time when you
have a regular appointment to meet
with God. Some like to do this over a
cup of coffee or sitting at the dining
room table. I told you in chapter 6 that
I do this by kneeling beside the couch
in my office. If you are unaccustomed
to doing this, do not try and overdo it.
Ten or fifteen minutes a day is a great
way to start! If you are going through
a particularly difficult season in your
life that is the result of a major loss,
a painful circumstance, or a wrong
choice, you might consider setting
aside a full day or half a day to meet
with God.
Second, select a portion of the Bible to
read and meditate on. Remember, God’s
primary means of communication to
us is through His Word. When you read
Scripture, you know you are listening
to the voice of God. You might consider
Psalm 34, which extols the faithfulness
of God, or Psalm 51, which describes
the forgiveness of God. For a longer
passage, try reading Romans 8—my
favorite chapter in the Bible— which
reminds us of the love of God. Or you
might want to read through an entire
book of the Bible. Paul’s brief letter
to the Philippians is a great place to
start, since it instructs us on how to be
joyful despite difficult circumstances.
Third, choose one or two verses to
memorize. Any verse or two that grabs
your attention or brings comfort in
your trial is fine. When bad days come
your way in the future, the Lord loves
to bring those verses back to your
memory—to encourage you again.
Fourth, after reading, spend t ime in
prayer. Your prayers do not have to
be eloquent or lengthy. God does not
pay more attention to long, drawn-
out prayers laced with “Thees” and
“Thous” than those offered in more
common language. God does not
weigh your words; He weighs your
heart. This is a time to be honest with
God, telling Him what is in your heart
rather than what you think should be
in your heart. Transparency with God
in prayer begins with confessing any
sin in your life. Remember, when you
acknowledge your wrong actions or
wrong attitudes, you are not giving
God any new information!
Finally, read a few pages in a good
Solutions • 61