What you’re doing impacts how you’re doing. Or, put another way, what you’re doing influences how you’re feeling.

A 2013 study in the Journal of Positive Psychology discovered that if you listen to upbeat music it can improve your mood.

How many of you have felt lighter after listening to a stand-up comedian? How many of you have felt darker after watching a dark movie? These are examples of this principle in action: What you’re doing impacts how you’re doing.

In a well-known passage about rejoicing, Paul reminds his readers about this same thing: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

Prayer and gratitude leads them (and us) toward experiencing God’s peace. He then goes on to stress the importance of proactively thinking about “excellent and praiseworthy” things (verses 8-9).

Do you feel down or low? Some of that just might be this chapter of life. But might it also be the result of certain activities which drag you into a darker place?

Identify activities that are “excellent and praiseworthy” in the eyes of God. And then do them.

What you’re doing impacts how you’re doing.

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Notes:

–The Up Devotional is published 5 days a week (Monday-Friday) and returns on June 14, 2021.

–My latest podcast is called “Is the persecution of Christians coming to Canada? – A talk with Paul Carter.” Is it coming? What is it? How is it different from losing influence? What advice might the apostle Peter have for us today? I really enjoyed this talk and the powerful insights Paul Carter shares. Click here to listen, or look for ‘The Pulse Podcast with Matthew Ruttan’ wherever you subscribe to podcasts: iTunes (Apple), Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or TuneIn.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.