Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1Thessalonians 5:16-18

All of us have the privilege and responsibility of choosing our attitudes, no matter what circumstances or situations we find ourselves in. The key word here is choosing. Attitudes don’t just happen: they are the products of our choices. Over time, the thought patterns established in our minds can put us on “auto pilot”, which means that when certain types of situations occur, we are programmed to think about them in certain ways.

Just as airplane pilots must maintain contact with air traffic control towers, we must stay in touch with God–the One who sees the big picture of our lives and orchestrates everything that involves us so that everything in our lives happens at the right time, moves at the appropriate speed, and causes us to arrive safely at the “destinations” He has planned for us. If we want to stay on track with God, we have to make communication with Him a priority. He will help us navigate the ups and downs of life and find our way through days when we can’t seem to see the next step we need to take. Communicate with God frequently through prayer, ready His Word, worship, and acknowledgement of His presence and guidance throughout every day.