Believe in Almighty God

The first principle is to believe in Almighty God.

Know that God loves you and will always love you, despite your shortcomings. You cannot do or say anything to make him angry. He is there for you right now despite any evil thoughts you might have. He has never left you. He is with you just where you are. You do not have to go anywhere to meet him.

What you are experiencing is the harshness of living in a real world with real people. Stop! God can help you. Encourage yourself, comfort yourself, and empower yourself to be the best that you can be at this very moment. It is all written in the Holy Bible. Whatever God promises will happen; just ask, and trust him to deliver.

Always give to the Lord, as stated in the Word, one-tenth of all your earnings. Bless others with that special gift you possess—whether it is a bright smile, a caring word, sound advice, an act of kindness, monetary assistance or a forgiving heart. Share your gift with someone, and remember, God is a giving God. Therefore, as you give, he will give back to you in abundance. You will not lose.

You may feel that my request is without merit. But I insist that we take care of the poor, children, the elderly, and all who are underprivileged and sick. This is key to achieving the precious satisfied life that has been set aside for all of us. At fifty, I became acutely aware that our days are short-lived. Even now I look around and see young, middle-aged, and old men and women being taken away from among us. Gone!

We must live in the present, and take one day at a time. Every time we pursue little deeds of kindness and speak little words of love, we are contributing to our own self-awareness and the lives of others in a positive way. This will greatly affect our self-motivation and respect. It also boosts self-esteem.

Many of my close friends and relatives who are around my age plan their futures as if they were twenty-five years old. I find myself doing likewise. Planning and change takes continuous effort. It's not too late to discover a purposeful life on this planet called Earth. I finally got it. "Better late than never," I say, but I worry about the folk who will never get it. They live for a drink of alcohol or abuse drugs every single day and say, "Tomorrow I will change." When will it hit them that a positive life is meant to be lived today and not tomorrow?

Many people are stuck in middle and old age, looking and longing for good companionship, attention, or lady luck. Remember, you can feel lonely if you are misguided and frustrated with yourself and those close to you and around you. How much would it cost you to be comfortable for the rest of your life? That is all you need. Can you guarantee that if you put aside more, others will spend it in a fair and trustworthy manner after your demise? You can live the good life here and now without feeling guilty. Look past the darkness of your yesterdays and aim toward the light in your future. It is right there, right here, right now. If you can see it, you can reach it. Keep trying. You must keep going. Don't stop. You can do this. When you believe in Almighty God, he will give you the ability to rise above hurts in life. You can have a forgiving heart. Pray constantly for wisdom and guidance. Do not ask for this gift for yourself alone, but also for close and extended family relations, friends, and everyone in the entire universe. Use the words of spiritual songs and poems as prayers, and remember that you were taught to pray by the Lord himself. The Lord's Prayer is an excellent daily prayer for all times (Matthew 6:9–13).

Our Father who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
forever.
Amen.

There was a dark time in my life when I could not pray at all. I remember just lying in bed with the covers pulled over my head. The covers felt too heavy to throw off; I was trapped. My husband sometimes came home from work during the day and found me still in bed.

At the time, I did not recognize that I had depression, or maybe I was in denial. I had left my job at a prominent medical center and tried to open a business, but it went belly-up after four years, and I was lost. At home with no job, I became despondent and was drying up inside. I'd drop off the children at school, then return to my haven of self-pity under the covers. I had a live-in maid who helped me with the children and did the housework; she even cooked. My husband paid all the bills, and I felt useless. I stayed in my room all day and night. He was at work during the day and late into the night, so I had plenty of time to wallow in self-pity.

Then one day I dragged myself out from under the covers and went into the living room. Our maid was watching a Christian channel. It came in loud and clear. A reverend was talking about how he had overcome to get an education from a university in Texas. Miracles happened for him; for example, his tuition was paid although he didn't know who had paid it. He took himself from being lost to becoming a successful preacher.

I picked up my Bible and prayed the Lord's Prayer. This prayer remains a special part of my life, and I reflect on its meaning every time I say it. I realized that I had to see what really mattered in my life. I was not giving my family the respect and attention they needed, because I felt like a failure. I was living in doubt and had to confess to God and myself that what I was doing was wrong before I could move past it.

That is exactly what I did. I fell to my knees right there in my living room and asked God to forgive me for being an unfaithful steward of our children and the time that had been allotted to me. Then I had to forgive myself by changing the way I perceived my life, and I also had to ask forgiveness from my family. Now, every day I pray and believe Almighty God will make each day the best day for me, my husband and two sons, and everyone connected and unconnected to me. And if I or others do not approve of how things were going, it is still okay. My power of positive perception is greater than the negative vibes or situations I encounter. I believe in Almighty God. Do you?

Know Yourself

This second principle is of utmost importance: know that you are uniquely the...