No more lonely nights

As I lay in bed last night, I was trying to tolerate the pain of a gall bladder flare up (I have them every once in awhile, ever since I had my baby 9 months ago). I decided I was going to pray and put my pain in God's hands because I knew He was the only one who could stop it. I find myself having my most intimate conversations with God at the end of the night when I go to bed. There is just something about it being so quiet and in a relaxed state that makes this time so special. I think it's mainly because there are no distractions. I have always spent my most intimate time with God right before I go to sleep. It makes going to sleep so much more peaceful and it's so cool to fall asleep talking to Him.

As I prayed that the pain I was enduring would stop, last night, it was only minutes after I prayed that the pain completely stopped. I praised God for his generosity and care in stopping the pain. Then for some reason I thought back to my wedding day when my husband strummed his guitar and sang to me the song "No more lonely nights" by Paul McCartney:

"I can wait another day until I call you  
You only got my heart on a string  
And everything a flutter
 
But another lonely night might take forever  

We've only got each other to blame 

It's all the same to me love 

'Cause, I know what I feel to be right

 
No more lonely nights  

No more lonely nights 

You're my guiding light  

Day or night, I'm always there

 
May I never miss the thrill of being near you 

And if it takes a couple of years  

To turn your tears to laughter 

I will do what I feel to be right

 
No more lonely nights

Never be another  

No more lonely nights  
You're my guiding light Day or night, I'm always there

 
And I won't go away until you tell me so  

No, I'll never go away  

Yes, I know what I feel to be right

 
No more lonely nights  

Never be another  

No more lonely nights  

You're my guiding light Day or night, I'm always there
And I won't go away until you tell me so  

No, I'll never go away 

I won't go away until you tell me so"

It's like a conversation between me and God. His words in red. This is exactly what it seemed to me last night. God is so loving and He is always there, it is us who stray away. So, the next time you ask God where He is, remember that He never left; but it was in fact you that was absent. He is ALWAYS there. I am glad to know that I will never have a lonely night and that whether it is day or night His guiding light will always be present.

Do you struggle with inadequacy?

If you are like me, I am sure you have experienced inadequacy at least once in your life. This is common, no need to hide it. We are all human and cannot fight the lack of self-confidence 100% of the time. After all, don't you think it is a great tool to be used to bring you down? Really think about that. The devil doesn't want us to be happy or successful. He wants to ruin the plans that God is trying to accomplish through us. Ever notice that when you are most on fire for God and know God is doing big things it doesn't take long before  you sink down at some level shortly thereafter?

Well, I want to share with you a recipe that I learned from Norman Vincent Peale, in his book called "The Power of positive thinking". If you decide to read the book he will give you several real life examples of how this recipe works wonders in people's lives. He covers this in chapter 1. Keep in mind that this recipe can only work if you apply it 100%. Keep in mind this is not some kind of crazy voodoo. This recipe only works because it teaches you how to kick out the devils whispers of negativity and the lies that are pushing you away from self-confidence. It opens you up to God so that He can work inside of your heart and mind and it allows Him to steer the wheel.

1) Formulate and stamp indelibly on your mind a mental picture of yourself as succeeding. Hold this picture tenaciously. Never permit it to fade. Your mind will seek to develop this picture. Never think of yourself as failing; never doubt the reality of the mental image. That is most dangerous, for the mind always tries to complete what it pictures. So always picture "success" no matter how badly things seem to be going at the moment.

2) Whenever a negative thought concerning your personal powers comes to mind, deliberately voice a positive thought to cancel it out.

3) Do not build up obstacles in your imagination. Depreciate every so-called obstacle. Minimize them. Difficulties must be studied and efficiently dealt with to be eliminated, but they must be seen for only what they are. They must not be inflated by fear thoughts.

4) Do not awestruck by other people and try to copy them. Nobody can be you as efficiently as YOU can. Remember also that most people, despite their confident appearance and demeanor, are often as scared as you are and as doubtful of themselves.

5) Ten times a day repeat these dynamic words, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31) (Stop reading and repeat them NOW slowly and confidently.)

6) Get a competent counselor to help you understand why you do what you do. Learn the origin of your inferiority and self-doubt feelings which often begin in childhood. Self-knowledge leads to a cure.

7) Ten times each day practice the following affirmation, repeating it out loud if possible. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (PHil 4:13) Repeat those words NOW. That magic statement is the most powerful antidote on earth to inferiority thoughts.

8) Make a ture estimate of your own ability, then raise it 10 percent. Do not become egotistical, but develop a wholesome self-respect. Believe in your own God-released powers.

9) Put yourself in God's hands. To do that simply state, "I am in God's hands." Then believe you are NOW receiving all the power you need. "Feel" it flowing into you. Affirm that "the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:21) in the form of adequate power to meet life's demands.

10) Remind yourself that God is with you and nothing can defeat you. Believe that you now RECEIVE power from him.