Week 45 Devotional | Pitiful vs POWERFUL

You can be pitiful or you can be POWERFUL - but you can't be both. It is easy to feel sorry for yourself. It is often easier to feel sorry for yourself than it is to work hard and change your situation, and feeling pity can be a hard habit to break or give up.

When I was a junior in college, I lost my starting spot to a younger player, and I spent half of the season feeling sorry for myself and making excuses. I thought the coach didn't like me, he was 'playing favorites,' and I didn't take responsibility for my actions - or lack of actions.

Then something clicked in me. I could be pitiful, or I could be POWERFUL. I could pout, moan, and complain, or I could help my team by embracing my opportunities when they came and embracing my role. I mastered my role and I had a great final two years of playing basketball, and I created some great memories because of it. I made it a goal to be the best player coming off the bench in my league, and I made it a goal to come in and bring energy, enthusiasm, and to change the game when I came in.

When someone hurts us, when we don't get something that we want, or when we feel or experience disappointment, the devil begins to whisper lies to us about how we are being treated unfairly. Remember, the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus came so that we may have life and have it to the full (John 10:10).

When you start getting thoughts of PITY, replace them with thoughts of POWER. Listening to the thoughts rushing through your head will help you realize how the enemy attacks our thoughts with ideas of self-pity to keep us from living our best life. The Bible tells us to encourage one another and build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11). The Bible also tells us to not do anything out of selfish ambition, but with humility, look out for the interests of others (Philippians 2:3-4).

When I took my mind off myself and looked at my situation from my team's and teammates' points of view, I found my love, joy, and peace for and to the game again. Joyce Meyer wrote, "It is amazing how easy it is to stay out of self-pity if we look at the other person's side and not just at our own. Self-pity is supported by thinking only of us and no one else (Meyer)."

No matter what trials, storms, and adversity that you face in life, be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous and be strong (1 Corinthians 16:13). Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always (1 Chronicles 16:11). Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power (Ephesians 6:10). The Lord gives strength to His people and He blesses them with peace (Psalm 29:11). Finally, be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6).

THIS WEEK

1 - Watch your thoughts. Be aware when your thoughts turn to self-pity. Find one or two Bible verses that you can meditate on (read, think about, and focus on).

2 - When you are feeling self-pity, ask yourself, "Who can I serve, bless, or do something nice for, and what can I do to make someone feel better?"

For a Google Doc version of this devo, click here: Week 45 | Power