My heart is heavy. Death, disappointment, disillusionment and discouragement have entered into my world. Over the past week I’ve had the opportunity to think about the lives of those who have lost their battle with this life or their battle within and it simply leaves my heart heavy. What the world calls this heaviness of heart is grief.

With all of these emotions and thoughts spinning around in my head, I determined yesterday to write a list (yes, another list) of how I want to live. How I will choose to live from this day forward. You see, I don’t want others to feel this heaviness when I’m no longer living. I want them to view my life as having celebrated Jesus each and every day. I can make that choice. And with the help of God’s Spirit, I will.

So today, I will share my list with you. Today I will…

Choose joy (Proverbs 17:22).

Know God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Live abundantly (John 10:10).

Speak truth (Ephesians 4:15).

Forgive (Colossians 3:13).

Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Serve wholeheartedly (1 Peter 4:10).

Give generously (Luke 6:38).

Be thankful (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Love (1 Corinthians 13).

Oh, I won’t pretend that I will live this way every single moment of every single day. There is too much evil in this world. But what I am saying is that if I don’t try, if I don’t make an effort, my sinful nature will take over and I’ll miss the joy of living as a child of the Light. And if I don’t rely on the Holy Spirit for help with this transformation, I will miss the mark.

Perhaps your heart is heavy this morning. For reasons beyond what I could comprehend. If so, why not adopt this list for yourself? Why not ask God’s Spirit to do His transforming work with you? It certainly couldn’t hurt.

I pray for the families of those who have lost their battle with this life. Their grief is deep this morning. I pray also for the lost of this world. I pray that the Lord will send someone who is able to speak His truth into their lives. I pray that God will abundantly bless those who are called by His Name. And above all, I pray that God’s Spirit will lead me today.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna