I’m just not feeling it today.
I haven’t been feeling it much this week.
In fact, I’m not feeling much of anything. Especially not nouns. You know– people, places and things.
I’m pretty much over them all.
But that’s where this book became an on time tool for me. In fact, there have been several occurrences this week that ultimately served as reminders that I needed to “Talk Myself Happy….”
First, one of my friends asked a question in our group text earlier this week that evoked an immediate response from me. Her question was, “Why is it that we sometimes fall off or get out of the worshiping spirit?”
- Can I tell you how grateful I am for a group of transparent friends!!!
- Ain’t that the truth….. We all get there sometimes.
My immediate response: The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. You have to push play and listen/sing until you start to feel different.
I didn’t realize it when I sent my response, but this goes back to the moment I stood in the Garden of Gethsemane in Israel. Those were Jesus’ words to Peter. It’s moments like this when those Bible stories I learned as a little girl become so tangible.
It might sound cliche, but it’s real. We all have those moments when we feel some type of way, even when we know that we shouldn’t. When we want to worship, but our body and physical selves go against everything we know in our spirit man. And sometimes we just give in to that. Our spirit may be willing, but our flesh is WEAK and if we are not on guard and disciplined we won’t have the strength necessary to resist the temptation.
Jesus Prays at Gethsemane … Then Jesus returned to the disciples and found them sleeping. “Were you not able to keep watch with Me for one hour?” He asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
So then what? I believe we ultimately get to a point where we become disgusted with ourselves and the results of our ways. We know from the scriptures that if we sow to the spirit we will reap to the spirit, but if we sow to the flesh, we will reap also from the flesh. I think that’s why we can only live this way for so long…. it’s fruitless. When you’ve been connected to the vine and you’ve been producing fruit– you’re only going to go but for so long before you realize that your life doesn’t have the fullness that it once had.
That moment is its own wake-up call. You realize that something has to change. If that moment doesn’t come from within, it usually comes at the hand of a trusted friend or wise counsel that will hold up a mirror for us to see ourselves.
Don’t like what you see in the mirror? Make that change (Yeah, that’s a Michael Jackson reference there. You knew a song reference would becoming… Man in the Mirror will PREACH).
Talk Yourself Happy is another book that I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to review. I actually came across the text thanks to You Version’s reading plans. There is a 5 day reading plan available for Talk Yourself Happy that I’d highly recommend. I’ve been reading it this week and it has helped me tremendously. In fact, I read it this morning and it changed my outlook on my entire day.
Earlier today, I was speaking with someone on the phone and she complimented how joyful and pleasant I was. I thanked her and tried to move on with the conversation, but she insisted and continued describing how I was much nicer than anyone who had called her previously. That was such a blessing to my day (and I was having a rough one)!
Here’s more about the book from the Publisher:
How does a person bounce back after being beaten down personally, professionally, and emotionally? What impact do words, thoughts, and beliefs have in determining one’s level of happiness? Kristi Watts asked herself these questions after her marriage dissolved and she left a high-profile position as a co-host of The 700 Club. Initially excited to walk into a new season of life that she thought held the key to happiness, she soon stumbled into emotional pitfalls that left her discouraged, disappointed, and distant from God. Known as the upbeat host who was always filled with joy and laughter, she was anything but—yet she was determined to get her happy back! But how? By learning, as Kristi did, that true happiness is not simply acquired but rather cultivated.
When one’s words focus on faulty perspectives, faith is quickly derailed, but by remembering God’s blessings and verbally claiming His promises, hearts change. Using biblical principles, Talk Yourself Happy illustrates the importance of relying on God to tame our tongues and train our minds, and it exposes the hidden traps that keep Christians from living lives of happiness, empowering readers with the ultimate transformation of their hearts.
Fix-It Fran’s Review of Talk Yourself Happy:
First and Foremost, the book is easy to read. I’ll be honest. I initially passed up reviewing the book, but I came across the reading plan on YouVersion, the description met me where I was, and I decided to start it. Then I wanted to read the full book.
Her writing style is easy to follow and the voice that she uses is very conversational. That makes a big difference to me. If I’m already in a “not feeling it” mood,I don’t need to read a book that is going to make me feel as if I’m being preached to about all of the reasons I shouldn’t be feeling that way.
Nope, not gonna work for me.
I need someone who will give me the truth, someone who has true empathy for my experience, and who can share some wisdom with me and equip me with an applied knowledge of scriptures that will both bring my flesh into submission and empower my spirit man while doing so.
This book is good for that! Kristi shares her personal story with readers in a way that allows you to feel (or at least I felt) that “she gets it!”
Today was not the first day that I’ve had to talk myself happy and I’m sure it will not be my last, but I’m equipped with even more tools for the journey ahead and I’m praying that this will encourage and help you as well.
Fix-It With Fran 