In this post, I recap a sermon by my pastor, Bishop Dale C. Bronner, who gives a Word on the power of optimism. Have you ever felt like you simply did not have "enough" to turn your mess into a better situation? Often times, we focus on what we don't have (pessimism) versus what we do have. Focusing on the negatives in our lives makes us think negatively and we behave as such. By contrast, when we choose to focus on our opportunities we begin to feel hopeful and create a plan of action that allows us to prosper in the midst of a storm.
Bishop Bronner uses the following scripture to illustrate this point and I recap the sermon in six minutes. The lesson is to exhibit faith by looking at your strengths and current opportunity and work that plan to completion. We have a bad habit of complaining, making excuses and overlooking opportunities that are within our reach that can solve the problem. Be an optimist, trust God, and work your way out of your mess into a miracle.
Scripture to study is 2 Kings 4:1-7-
4 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”
2 Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”
“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”
3 Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. 4 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”
5 She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”
But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.
7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”
I pray that this blesses you immensely.
-God Bless