A Recipe For a Good Day

from February 23, 2008 . . .

Last week was a very good one for me. Two days specifically, were two of the best days I have had in a long time. Life is so much easier when you are in a good mood and I believe it is easier for God to use you as well because your heart is open. You will have a better chance at having a good day when . .

Your heart is right with God

This is the first step. The Bible says inPsalms 43:5, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." When everthing is right with God I always feel so much better than when things are not. When it has been a while since I read my Bible and I only pray short prayers not from the heart, I start to feel sluggish or listless. But when I turn my heart back to where I should be I feel the life come back to me! Everything is always better when I have God by my side.

You get plenty of sleep

Last week I was . . . well . . .behind in my school. That means I had to work extra hard to catch up before my tests and homework assignments were due. Two nights before they were due I stayed up late to get everything done. When I was finally able to collaps into bed after 11 PM, I fell asleep with no problem and didn't wake up until the alarm went off the next morning. The sleep I got those two nights were so refreshing! I went about my day as happy as can be.

I think for some it is "cool" to go with hardly any sleep. They think that it is mature or adult-like to be so busy that there isn't enough time to get enough sleep that they really need. But when we have a good nights rest we will be able to get a whole lot more done the next day. In the long run, we will make more of our time if we take the time to rest.

You eat healthy

It was a Wednesday afternoon. After I got off work I had to run by the grocery store to buy some baking goods for mama. After I found everything I needed I slowly walked past the bakery section of the store. There were cakes, pies, cookies, cup cakes . . . a lot of deliciouse sweets! Yes, I knew that I had already had snacks the previouse Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, but I was craving sugar pretty bad! As I walked towards the checkout lane I thought I might find some kind of candy bar on the self. However, the shortest lane was the only one that didn't have any snacks in the isle. Oh well. As I drove home I considered stopping by Dairy Queen for an ice-cream. A cookie-dough blizard would be really good right now! But do I feel like spending all that time in the drive thru? (They are usually slow.) So I then thought about stopping at a convenient store for a Snickers Bar. That's when I realized just how much trouble I was in. I was addicted to sugar.

The next two days I didn't eat any sugar at all. Since then I have had a little bit on the weekends and maybe a bite or two of a snack durring the week, but not every day. I noticed right off that I had more energy and my mind didn't feel foggy. I was able to think clearer and I got along with everyone so much easier. Amazingly, I even talked slower! I always talk fast, and there are some words that I have tried to say slower but I really couldn't make my mouth slow down. After I (sort of) gave up on the sugar I was able to talk without people saying, "Huh?" This shouldn't be surprizing because sugar is known to cause hyperactivity in children. Now I know that it also makes your mouth hyper too! ; )

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

These are a few things that I have been trying to do lately that have really made a differance in me. Of course I still have those days don't go very smooth to say the least, but I don't know if I will ever be rid of them. Other things that will help is exercising a few days a week and getting at least 15 minutes of sunlight every day. I have failed in fitting those two things back into my schedule. : ( But I'm still trying!

But above all, make sure your heart is where it needs to be. Even if you are the healthiest you have ever been, God can make you misserable if you are not obedient to His Word. God always comes first!