Mensa Otabil - Living Positively (10/06/2025)
Welcome to a brand new week. We thank God for watching over us and bringing us to this day. The Lord wants us to live our lives positively. He wants us to enjoy our lives and to have a positive attitude every day, whether we face a day or a week.As we continue to think about this year, it’s important for us to look at how to live our lives positively. Matthew chapter 6, verse 25: «Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you eat or what you drink, nor about your body, what you put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?»
God says when you have life, you have everything because your life is better than food, and your body is better than the clothing you put on. This doesn’t mean that you don’t need to have the good things in life, but we need to gain perspective. We have life; we are alive, and it’s important to glorify the Lord.
The Lord Jesus Christ told us these words so that we learn to live each day appreciating the life He has given us, the body we have, and the moments and opportunities He has provided. To live this positive life, we must learn to notice the gifts of God and thank Him for them: the gift of life, the gifts of friendship, and the gift of relationships.
Even just the opportunity to wake up and go to a job is something to be thankful for, even if you’re not earning the greatest amount of money and still have debts to pay. Just being able to work in a day is an honor and a privilege. So, look for the good things that God has done for you. Don’t just focus on all the things that are going wrong and all the negatives in your life. Thank God for all the positives and for all the good things He is doing.What do we do when we have needs? We turn them into prayer. We speak to the Lord about them; we pray about them. That’s the privilege of being a child of God: you don’t carry your burdens all by yourself and moan, groan, worry, or complain about all the difficulties you’re going through. Instead, focus that energy and turn it into prayer.
So, instead of talking to people about your needs, talk to the Lord. Instead of complaining about what you don’t have, find out God’s promises. Discover what God has promised you, and pray according to His promises. Turn your worries into prayer-positive prayers, prayers of faith, prayers of confidence-and talk to the Lord about your needs.
Let’s learn to look for fulfillment in the right places. Many times, we get disappointed in life because we look for fulfillment either from the wrong person or the wrong thing. We go somewhere hoping that we’ll find peace. For example, if someone has financial problems and turns to alcohol as an additional issue, now he has to buy the alcohol, which impairs his judgment and compounds his problems. He is not finding a solution in the right place; the solution is not in the bottle.
Sometimes, someone might think, «Oh, let me start an extramarital affair; maybe I’ll find peace.» But that doesn’t give peace; it only brings more problems and complicates issues. Look for fulfillment in the right place. As children of God and Christians, our fulfillment is in the Lord. He is our help, our hope, our strength, and our guide.
So this week, as you face the week, face it positively. Thank God for the life He has given you, and thank Him for the opportunities you have. Yes, I know you have needs, but thank Him for the good things He is doing in your life. Face this day and this week with the joy of the Lord, with gladness because God will make a way for you this week. He will open a door for you, and what you thought could never be solved will be resolved before the week is over.
Let us pray. Say with me: «Heavenly Father, I refuse to be worried and anxious. I step out today fully confident in your goodness to me. In Jesus' name, amen and amen."Well, I will catch you again tomorrow. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.