What do you enjoy more, a pat on the head or a kick in the pants?
Ken travels around the nation consulting with orthodontists. A lot of his work is dealing with staff members and the relationships between them. There is a lot of arguing and self-pity going on. He encourages them to start praising each other instead of criticizing each other. Praise accomplishes a lot more than criticism.
How about starting to praise your husband, your children, your friends, and neighbors more? It feels good to be praised. Every body likes to be praised.
Joyce Meyer was saying that years ago she went to a church and all they learned about was what sinners they were and in need of repentance. So they would continually remind themselves what sinners they were, unworthy of God's love, and repented of their sins every week. But she later learned, that is only the first part of the story.
Once we believe, we are called saints, new creatures in Christ, walking in newness of life, freed from sin, partakers of the divine nature...I could go on and on. We have been cleansed of all our sin, set free, and we can walk around in that freedom. Start saying that to yourself, believe it to be true, and see how much better you act and feel!
God speaks words of praise to us, not condemnation. He is our example to follow, so start speaking words of praise to yourself and others. Mumble to yourself every day, "I am a new creature in Christ, I am the righteousness of God,..." and then start saying it to those around you, encouraging them in their faith.
Our words are powerful, so speak words of life and love. Life is SO much sweeter living with praise rather than with condemnation. Renew your mind with God's truth and walk in love!
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
I Peter 2:9
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away ; behold , all things are become new.
