Happy Monday.

Do you feel like facing another week? Perhaps not?

Can we really trust our feelings? Live by them?

Feelings are so fickle, so changeable. Whatever you feel at any given time has been preceded by thoughts.

The verse, “Keep (guard) your heard (thoughts) with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” has been on my mind.

We must diligently watch what we take into our minds, and what we allow to stay there. If we dwell on something, we will eventually act on it.

My husband said it like this, “You can’t keep a bird from lighting on your head, but you can keep it from building a nest there.”

The news has bombarded us lately with yet another well known entertainer who has taken his life, one who seemed to have it all.

What are the thoughts of one who reaches that point?

Loss–of joy? of hope? of purpose? no future?

One columnist said this, “What might have happened if the person had waited for twenty four hours? or for that matter, one hour? Could their thoughts have taken a new direction, more positive?”

Could there have been a happier outcome?

The story of David in 1 Samuel 30 tells of a time of loss in his life. The city of Ziklag had been destroyed, the women taken captive, and he was threatened with stoning.

But something unusual is said. David encouraged himself in the Lord. Is that possible?

In Psalms 42 and 43, David asks himself four times, “Why are you downcast?”

He then gave himself an answer. “Hope in God!” For He’s the helper.”

I believe he concluded, “When I’ve suffered loss, do I still have that which I cannot lose?”

Yes! The hope in God who said, “I will never leave you…Lo, I am with you always.”

We do suffer losses–reputation, money, love, health, energy–but we too have that “Presence” that we won’t lose.

Listen to the hopeful message from Catherine Marshall as she lay very ill from tuberculosis.

“If you lose all of your human props, take heart! God’s message to you is to stop depending on human resources. Let me handle the matter.”

Think on this.