Develop Your CORE VALUES in 2012 from here.

Scripture Reading: “Therefore, my BELOVED brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” Ephesians 4:15 I know of no other medication for emotional pain and discomfort than turning from selfishness to selflessness. The key to joyful living is buried in the joy we derive in selflessly seeking to please God and be a blessing to others. When all your exertions are all about yourself – your money, your power, your popularity, your this and your that, you’re on an express lane to misery and pain. In rounding off these series on – Growing Your Emotions, I will like to share on a few keys to joyful living I have found from the Word of God and in real life that breaks all emotional bottle necks. Love Freely Never wait to be loved. The chief principle of life is – give and it shall be given unto you, pressed down, shaken together. Never the other way round. Be the first to say hello. Be the first to say ‘thank you.’ Be the first to ask – ‘How are you today?’ It is a documented scientific fact that those who love freely never lack for affection and attention. Those who give love get love back many times over. What you give is a seed; what you get is a harvest. That is always a foundational principle of life. He is the most miserable of all who waits to be loved. Love is the basis for all relationships. When you learn to love others, inevitably the recipients of your love and attention will have a desire to give back what they have received. That is human nature. “Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,” Colosians 1:4 People who love freely don’t have emotional hang ups. Love is the mother of a thousand virtues. Those who love don’t have time for unforgiveness or bitterness or backbiting. Love puts you above strife, quarrels and other vices. Wish others Well Genuinely wish others well. Desire good for others. This is the perfect remedy for envy. Be glad to see others succeed. Speak well of others. Never think ill of others. Always have a word of encouragement for people around you. The truth is that everyone has weak areas. We all have things about our lives that we are not particularly proud of. Issues we would rather hide and don’t want others to see or know about. Don’t go about looking for people’s dirty linens. When you catch others at their points of their weaknesses, the best gifts we can give them is to encourage them, not condemn them. Condemnation is cheap. Love is expensive. There is a place for rebuke and correction but even that the Bible teaches us to do it in ‘a spirit of love.’ We empower people more with positive encouragement than stern rebukes. “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” 1Thessalonians 5:11 See beyond people’s present circumstances. God is a God of transformation. He is able to turn around people. He makes weak people strong. He makes poor people rich. No matter what people are going through, we all owe each other a word of encouragement. Money is not everything. Most times, people around us need more of our care, love and encouragement than our money. Sometimes, we assist people more with words of encouragement, hope and inspiration than what else we can give them. Help Others The Best You Can We all need help sometimes. Be willing to lend a hand to anyone in need. Helping someone may put them ahead of us, help all the same. The truth is that God uses others to help us. You have no right to pray for divine help until you are giving others help. If you must reap help, you must sow help. Every help we render is a seed we sow. Every help we get is an harvest. No seed, no harvest. If you need more help, sow more help. “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:10 The most emotionally adjusted people are the ones who love freely, help freely, forgive freely and give freely.

[My beloved, I counsel that you cultivate and develop your personal CORE VALUES, this year 2012, from these admonitions. I love you. You will all succeed in Jesus’ name, Amen. Tokunbo Oshokoya] Culled from Dr. Oshinaga’s daily devotion