Whether you’re in your 20s or a few decades down the road, the wisdom in this study will help you do now what will bring you happiness and fulfillment in the years ahead.
Joyce Meyer Ministries
Day 1
Scripture: Psalms 51:10
Youth Is an Attitude
Attitude is so important—a good one will keep you feeling energized and enthusiastic about life at any age. John Maxwell has said, “Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it,” and I have found that to be true. If you think about it, some people have a hard life and a bad attitude to go with it, while others with similar problems learn to enjoy each day no matter what it brings.
When I start to think negatively, stories like this one help me get my mind back in the right direction…
The lady is 92 years old, petite, well poised, and proud. She is fully dressed each morning by eight o’clock, with her hair fashionably coiffed and her makeup perfectly applied, in spite of the fact that she is legally blind. Today she has moved to a nursing home. Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making this move necessary.
As she maneuvers her walker to the elevator, the staff person provides a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet curtains that have been hung on her window. “I love it,” she states with enthusiasm of an 8-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy. “Mrs. Jones, you haven’t seen the room…just wait,” the staff person says.
Then Mrs. Jones speaks these words: “That does not have anything to do with it,” she gently replies. “Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like the room or not does not depend on how the furniture is arranged. It is how I arrange my mind.”
This story illustrates not only the benefits of a positive attitude toward every situation but also the importance of making good decisions and setting your mind in the right direction. Please don’t wait until you’re 92 years old to decide to have a positive attitude toward life. Set your mind today to be happy and satisfied in every moment and every season of your life.
Prayer Starter: Father God, I want to enjoy my life at every age. Please show me how I can prepare my mind today to stay positive and live purposefully in the years ahead.
Day 2
Scripture: Proverbs 4:20-22
Love the Word of God
Some people think they are too busy to spend time in prayer and Bible study, but whatever your age or season of life you’re in, I encourage you to make time with God a priority. Prayer is simply talking with God, pouring out our hearts to Him, letting Him know that we need Him and can’t do what is before us without Him. Bible study is reading and studying God’s Word, which has the power to feed us and make us strong.
Have you ever thought to yourself, “I don’t need to listen to this sermon. I’ve already heard it 100 times before!”? I certainly have. But if the Holy Spirit leads me to focus on a familiar topic, then I know the effort it takes will be worthwhile.
For example, if I need peace, I know several scriptures I can read that will calm me down. If I need healing, I know several verses to go to and find promises that God will heal me. If I need finances, I know many scriptures that will assure me that God will provide for my every need.
I don’t think we can have a problem for which God’s Word does not have the answer. His Word encourages us, strengthens us, heals us, corrects us, enlightens us, and provides us with many other blessings.
Never approach prayer or studying God’s Word as an obligation to be fulfilled; approach it as a privilege to be enjoyed. The Word of God is medicine for our souls, and we should take our medicine regularly, just as a person who needs physical healing should do. God’s medicine—His Word—has unlimited refills, and its side effects are life, healing, strength, joy, and restoration.
The more I study God’s Word, the more I love it! I encourage you to never tire of reading and studying the same truths and lessons over and over in Scripture because they feed you each time you do.
Prayer Starter: Father God, thank You so much for the life-giving power of Your Word! As I read and study it, teach me what You want me to know and bring Your healing power into my life.
Day 3
Scripture: Isaiah 40:31
Be Good to Yourself
The aging process is part of the cycle of life. We can’t stop it, but we can slow it down by beginning to take care of ourselves early. Here are five practical suggestions that’ll help you feel your best:
1. Get seven to eight hours of sleep each night, or more if needed. You may have to say no to something else you really want to do in order to get the sleep you need, but adequate sleep and rest will help you age slower and you’ll feel better as you do.
2. Drink plenty of water every day. If we don’t drink enough water, our skin will age quicker, and many other body functions may operate at a subpar level or even become diseased. A formula I use for myself is to divide your body weight by two, and then drink that many ounces of water each day.
3. Get some exercise. Doing something is better than nothing—and the earlier you develop the habit of exercising, the easier it will be and the better the results will be. Our bodies crave what we give them. Give yours what will make it strong and healthy, and that is what it will want.
4. Take good care of your skin and teeth. Wearing sunblock is one of the most important things you can do to protect your skin. And regularly brushing your teeth not only helps prevent cavities and keeps your gums healthy, but it can also prevent expensive and uncomfortable dental work!
5. Eat a healthy diet. I encourage you to talk with your physician to make sure you’re getting the vitamins and minerals your body needs.
You matter! Please don’t make the mistake of going without things that you actually need, like proper rest, a healthy diet, and exercise. The best gift you can give to your family, your friends, and the world around you is a healthy you!
Prayer Starter: Father God, I know that if I want to take good care of others, I need to take good care of myself. Help me to take the necessary actions today that will leave me feeling my best for years to come.
Day 4
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Be Good to Others, Too!
The key to happiness isn’t only in being loved; it is also in having someone to love. As the actor Dick Van Dyke said, “We all need something to do, someone to love, and something to hope for.” Anyone can have these blessings. They are not likely to present themselves to people just sitting around wishing for them, but they are certainly available to those who will seek them and go after them.
Even when we go through times of sickness or are physically impaired, our purpose can be to pray for and encourage others. There is always something we can do to help someone else if only we will look for those opportunities and be willing to try something new.
It is often little acts of kindness that mean the most. For example, we can take the time to simply listen to others and genuinely learn about them. I believe this is something we all need to do, and I know this enhances relationships in amazing ways. We should get to know people: find out what they like and dislike, want or don’t want, what they need and what their dreams are for the future.
If we always do just a little more than we have to, we will end up being a blessing to many! If you want to give yourself a real challenge in life, then make it your goal to do all you can, as often as you can, for as many people as you can.
I didn’t think much about my legacy when I was young, but now that I am older, I think about it often. I want people to remember me as a godly woman who not only loved God but loved people as well. What kind of legacy will you leave behind?
Prayer Starter: Father God, You are the only One Who can take what I’ve been through and work it out for my good. Help me to continually draw closer to You so that I may receive total healing in my soul and the burning desire to share Your love with others.
Day 5
Scriptures: Matthew 11:28, Genesis 1:31
Take Time to Rest
I believe that hard work is good for us and that through it, we can bring honor to God. But if we don’t also have periods of rest, working excessively can be harmful to our health.
At 73, I received the diagnosis of extreme adrenal fatigue. The doctor wrote me a prescription for medication to help with the stress. But the medicine was not all I needed. The doctor also prescribed resting for at least eighteen months!
In the early days of my recovery, I was so tired that I couldn’t do much but sit in a recliner and look out the window. But inside, I kept thinking, I should be doing something. I needed to learn to value rest as much as I value work. Maybe you do, too. Let me encourage you to give yourself permission to be tired. You don’t need a reason or an excuse. If you are tired, rest! If you feel you are excessively tired, see your doctor. But if you are tired simply because you are aging, accept it and take a break or a nap.
Anyone can experience burnout unless they use wisdom in managing life’s demands. If we want time to relax, we have to schedule it rather than simply waiting for it to appear on our calendars.
Maybe you need to schedule rest time or fun time on a regular basis and stick to it as you would a very important appointment.
We see in Genesis 1:31 that even God took time to rest and enjoy the good work He had done. We need to follow that example. What is the point in spending our lives working hard at something if we never take time to enjoy the rewards?
Prayer Starter: Father God, I am thankful that You have commanded me not only to work but to take time for rest and relaxation. In the midst of my busy life, help me to use wisdom in setting up my schedule so that I can enjoy a godly balance of work and rest, for the rest of my life.