12 Rules for Life (Days 9-12)Sample

Day 12: Embracing Life’s Simple Joys

Scripture: Philippians 4:8 - "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

Quote: “Pet a cat when you encounter one on the street.” - Jordan Peterson

Imagine Paul, imprisoned, yet penning the profound truths of Philippians.

Amidst adversity, he found beauty, a lesson mirrored in Peterson’s call to appreciate life's simplistic yet profound moments.

In the midst of his adversity, Paul urged us to focus on whatever is lovely and praiseworthy.

Consider Ruth, amidst the bitterness of loss, finding solace and beauty in the fields of Boaz.

Every grain of barley, a reminder of God’s provision, and every sunset is a testament to His enduring grace.

In our turbulent seas of challenges, the 'cats on the street' are God's reminders of His presence, symbols of beauty amidst ashes, and grace amidst grief.

As we close out this last day I wonder if anything comes to mind for you as it pertains to overlooking simple joys.

Just the other morning I woke up early to work out and the sun was coming up. It was bright pink. It was incredible.

I tried to take a photo but it wasn’t nearly the same.

It was at that moment I took a step back and said, “Thank you, Lord. Thank you for this remarkable and incredible moment of beauty.”

In another instance, and a rather funny one, I was particularly taken aback by some animals.

We live in the desert and at certain times of the year javelina will visit our property. Well, it was the fall season and my kids had finished drawing on a pumpkin.

The pumpkin was sitting on the counter for a few days and started to rot. So, I took it outside and left it on a rock.

The rock area is completely open and right next to a natural desert preserve. I was hoping some wildlife would come by and guess what - THEY DID.

The pumpkin was gone but we didn’t know what ate it.

So we bought 4 more pumpkins and my kids smashed them all up and put them next to the rocks.

The next day - we hit the jackpot.

All day long javelina were eating the pumpkins and bringing their friends. It was the cutest thing and my kids ABSOLUTELY loved it.

Just as I watched my kids smiling and laughing at the javelina I couldn’t help but thank the Lord for giving us this beautiful moment.

He cares even about the little things in our lives.

Before you get into your day. Before you get busy, I want to pray quickly with you. I want the Lord to show you the beauty in your day. The fun, the joy, maybe some moments you are missing.

Lord, be with them today. Open their eyes to the joy of life. May the joy of the Lord be their strength today. May they know you more. May they trust you more. May they smile and laugh with you. You are a great Father. The best Father. Make yourself known to them. In Jesus name, Amen.

Take some time and reflect on these questions:

• What are the 'cats on the street' in your life that you’ve overlooked?
• How can a shift in focus elevate your perspective amidst challenges?
• How does God’s enduring beauty manifest in your everyday experiences?

Affirmation: "Today, I choose to embrace and celebrate the beauty and grace woven into every moment of my life."

If any of this was impactful for you, please let me know. Feel free to email me or send a message on Instagram.

If you feel like God is leading you into higher levels of Spirituality, I’d love to challenge you to join my Spiritual Accountability Group, join my email growth list, or look into 1-1 coaching. You can find more about it at anthonythompson.org