Romans 8:31 (NASB)
³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 

How do we see ourselves? The apostle Paul exhorts us check ourselves to see if "we are in the faith". We are also told to judge ourselves so we won't be judged. 

Jesus warned us saying, "watch and pray", in fact he made similar statements several times. 

I just wanted to make the point that we need to stay "hooked up" with the Lord and not allow ourselves to become distracted from our relationship with Him and His will for our lives.

So, how do we see ourselves? Do you see, think of yourself as a new creation or sinner saved by grace. 

Do you see yourself as having the gift of righteousness, as having been justified and therefore at peace with God and welcome in His presence, or a "dirty old worm" of some kind thinking that God won't listen to you anyway and doesn't really care about you?

Do you see yourself as capable in Christ? Do you see yourself strong for all things, sufficient for all situations through Him who loves you and strengthens you? 

God is for you, He is for us. If he wasn't He wouldn't have sent Jesus to set us free from the power of sin and Its penalty. He wouldn't have sent Jesus to become a curse for us if He didn't want us to be free from the curse of the Law.

If He didn't want us to pass the test He wouldn't have given us the Answer to every question. Thank God for Jesus, Amen!

God intends for us to live in victory, to be over comers and to live life filled full with Him. (This is where true fulfillment is found.)

Proverbs tells us, as a man thinks in his heart so is he. 

What we think shapes our destiny. 

We become what we think on ... positive or negative .. up or down ... victor or victim .. can or can't ... relevant or irrelevant ... happy or sad ... righteous in Christ or unrighteous ... accepted in the beloved or not.

A great way to begin to correct our thinking (if its been goofy) is to practice being thankful, because thanksgiving is in "up" mode. Thanksgiving releases faith, thanksgiving gives God words He can work with in our behalf.

2 Corinthians 2:14 (KJV)
¹⁴ Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 

Psalm 50:23 (NIV1984)

23 He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, 

and he prepares the way 

so that I may show himthe salvation of God."

Psalms 50:23 (AMP)
²³ He who brings an offering of praise and thanksgiving honors and glorifies Me; and he who orders his way aright [who prepares the way that I may show him], to him I will demonstrate the salvation of God. 

Thanksgiving prepares the way for victory. 

Think about all you have in Christ, think about what has been given to you in Christ, think about what has been promised to you in Christ. He is alive, He doesn't change and He is faithful. With those things in mind GIVE HIM THANKS ... RIGHT NOW ... TODAY IS THE BEST TIME TO SHAPE TOMORROW.

THANK YOU LORD ... THANK YOU ... LIFT YOUR HANDS ... LIFT YOUR HEART ... LIFT YOUR VOICE ... THANK YOU LORD

SELAH