Hope Positively

I have begun to declare positive words over my life and the lives of my family. God wants so much more for my life than what I’ve been living in. He wants so much more for YOUR life, too. Believe it because it’s true. But as long as we keep speaking negativity (“That’s just my luck,” ~”I’m not talented in anything,”~ “I have no special skills,” etc.) into our lives, we will never move forward. Every day, every situation, is another “ingredient” in our recipe of life. Another ingredient, we rise to another level. Like baking cookies. As long as you put all the ingredients in, the cookies bake up very nicely. Leave out an ingredient, like baking soda, and the cookies never rise. They ruin.

God’s “baking soda” can raise you to a whole new level. But if you never put it in, you’ll never rise to that level. You have to stay in His Word (read your Bible), you have to talk to Him (pray), and above all, you have to trust Him (have HOPE).

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” ~Jeremiah 29:11

It sounds easier said than done, doesn’t it? I’m learning, and I want to share this with you as well, that the more I put my trust in God and believe that He will come through on His promises, the better my life becomes. In fact, as I was stewing over what I thought was a problem, I opened a new book from Joel Osteen & read the following declaration:

I declare I will experience God’s faithfulness. I will not worry. I will not doubt. I will keep my trust in Him, knowing that He will not fail me. I will give birth to every promise God put in my heart and I will become everything God created me to be. This is my declaration. (Joel Osteen, I Declare, Day Two 2012)

The story after the declaration was even more confirmation that I’m in the right place at the right time. Everything that I read was exactly what I had been going through at that moment. And God let me know that He was going to take care of it. He has it under control. I don’t need to worry.

Many of you today claim that you are worriers. You worry over everything, and when there’s nothing to worry about, you worry that you aren’t worrying. Stop it! Instead, start claiming God’s Word. Speak it out loud over your life. When you do, the most amazing things will begin to happen.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation– so why should I be afraid?” ~Psalm 27:1(a)

Shelley Wilburn

Shelley Wilburn has been writing since the age of twelve. She loves stories and adventures, and often finds herself getting into mischief with any one of her six grandchildren. She has written several articles and devotionals over the years for various newspapers, women's magazines, and newsletters. She has also co-authored devotionals. Shelley began writing full-time in 2012 after being healed of over 40 years of depression and anxiety. Using her love of writing, and wearing mismatched socks, Shelley has developed a unique ministry of encouraging others using biblical truths and stories from her own personal life. When not writing, you can find Shelley and her husband of over 30 years, D.A. zipping down the road in their newest adventure-maker, a bright orange, Mustang convertible Shelley has laughingly dubbed The Pony.