Joyce Meyer - 20 Ways to Make Every Day Better: Simple, Practical Changes with Real Results

Im just having a bad day.

I cant tell you how many times Ive heard people mutter those words (or muttered them myself). Traffic is backed up, you spill your coffee before you even get a sip, the kids are driving you crazy, the kitchen faucet is dripping, your boss is in a mood, and the car is making that funny noise again. Im just having a bad day!

While there arent many days when all of those things happen at once (thankfully), you and I both know that any one of those challenges can test our temperament, pollute our perspective, or hijack our joy. Far too often, we write it off as a bad day and give up until tomorrow. Tomorrow will be better, we hope, while subconsciously waving the white flag of surrender on today.

But the problem with bad days is they tend to pile uphave you noticed that? A bad day becomes a bad week. A bad week becomes a bad month. And before you know it, a bad month becomes a bad year. Many of us spend the last week of every December saying the exact same thing: I cant wait until this year is over!

Well, if you can relate to that, if youve ever given up on today, waiting for tomorrow, I wrote this book for you. You see, I dont believe for one moment that you have to go through life held hostage by your circumstances. It doesnt matter what happens around you, if youve accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, you have the Spirit of God within you. Peace, joy, strength, patience its all yours in Christ. Your hope and happiness is not dependent on the worldthe Bible says that He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

Sure, there are going to be tough days when things dont go as planned. We all know what its like to deal with difficulties over the course of the day. Sometimes its minor (the interview goes poorly, the baby is teething, you cut yourself shaving), and sometimes its major (you get laid-off from work, the doctor orders a CT scan, your marriage is in trouble). But whatever challenges each day brings, you dont have to let those challenges determine your outlook on life. There are things you can do to make your day better!

Sunny or raining, good report or bad, surrounded by friends or standing alone, on top of the mountain or down in the valleyyou can enjoy every day of this life God has given you. Its not about what happens around you its about what is happening in you! Your decision on how to react to a circumstance is much more important than the circumstance itself. I am thrilled to tell you that you dont have to just settle for a bad day; there are many things you can choose to do that will make your day better! I dont like the feeling of being helpless, and I doubt that you do either; therefore, understanding that I have choices available that can make my day better is very encouraging to me, and I hope it will also be encouraging to you.

In more than forty years of ministry, Ive noticed that most people dont even realize they are living lives far short of Gods best. Theyve settled for good enough and Oh well, it could be worse, not realizing that Gods will is for their lives to get better and better, shining more and more (brighter and clearer) until [it reaches its full strength and glory in] the perfect day [to be prepared] (Proverbs 4:18).

Is that you? Is it possible that youve set up camp in the land of trying to make it through the day, when God wants you to move into the land of truly enjoying each day? If youre not sure, let me pose a few questions that might help you:

Is your happiness each day determined by outside factors: How coworkers treat you? What kind of a mood your spouse is in? Unforeseen challenges or obstacles that appear? Or even the weather?

Do you sometimes feel like youre on an emotional roller coasterdelighted one day but discouraged the next?

Do you ever dread the day or week ahead, wondering what might go wrong?

Is your lifemarriage, career, family, relationshipssemi-good, but you would like it to be much better?

Do you sometimes feel jealous of the life someone else has?

Have you settled far short of reaching your original goal?

If you answered yes to even one of those questions, Im so glad you picked up this book for two reasons: (1) I know how frustrating those feelings can be (trust me, Ive been there), and (2) I know how freeing it can be when you learn how to maximize each day and enjoy Gods best. And thats what I believe God is going to do for you!