Encourging Yourself is a Tough Job

My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long. Psalm 71:8.

I have found it is easier to praise the Lord when good things are happening, don't you? What about when times are tough though? Do you still praise Him in the midst of your storm or do you ask "where are you now God?"
Not just a few moments ago I got some bad news, stinky news, the kind of news you wish you could turn the clock back and make different choices about. I had a choice to either praise God for the choice I made or praise Him for the choice I have to make restitution on and praise Him for providing all my needs. It wasn't easy though. As I walked my dog, Sadie, down the road I mumbled and complained about my recent choice that got me into some financial hot water. In the middle of my complaining and disliking of myself, I realized I had a choice to change my outlook.
I just couldn't give in to allowing the spiritual warfare around me take over. In that split moment I asked for forgiveness for my financial decision and praised the Lord that He already knew it was going to happen. I then turned my life and will over to the care of God. Yet, as I turned the corner I took it back; I found myself complaining again.   Have you ever tossed to and fro on your decisions of surrendering to God?
I believe it became a love/hate issue. I hate what I did to myself, and I love the God who promises to prosper me not to harm me, to give me a hope and a future.
I then asked myself, "whom do you seek?" I replied within "Jesus of Nazareth." I'm not religious, but I am in a relationship with Jesus Christ. To say that I seek after His help is a huge statement in my life. Some people would rather seek after fixing the problem themselves through a financial institute or going deeper in debt through a credit card. If that is what they chose, it's all right with me; it's just not for me.
I am now surrendering to God with this dialogue and waiting on an answer:
"so Lord, where are you at work in my life that I can join you and restore my finances to sanity?" I'm still waiting on an answer like I said. I believe this to be a God size answer because I don't have the answers nor am I out looking for one. Why?, you ask.  Well why should I? If I trust in what I cannot see and have the faith of a mustard seed then I don't need to go looking for the answer, right? Wrong. It is better for me to keep a close watch on what is happening around me because you never know what the Lord or "who" the Lord will put into my path to help me.
I choose to praise God in my valley as well as on my mountain top. I consciencously choose to trust in the Lord's words and believe in his promise. God has a hope and a future for me and I must see where my mistakes are and deal with them rather than mess up and have someone else clean the mess.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

To God's glory and not my own.

~Marjorie