by Daniel B.
Everyone wants to live their best life. Countless dollars are spent each day on self-help books and life coaches who promise to help individuals find and tackle what’s holding them back. But what if the best life coach you could ever have is totally free—and currently sitting in your own home?
The Bible—God’s own holy word—is chock-full of advice that can help you to eliminate nasty habits and move forward in life with confidence. Below, we take a look at seven “Rules of Life,” and the relevant passages for each one in the Bible.
1. Make peace with your past so it doesn’t affect the present
Many of us struggle with regrets or past circumstances that have left negative impressions on our lives. As humans, we have a tendency to revisit these events, often wondering what we—or others—could have done differently, and to great detriment. But the Bible tells us not to dwell in the past. Isaiah 43:18 says:
“Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past.”
When we no longer allow the past to define us, we can look ahead with great confidence, knowing that God has great things prepared for us as Christians.
2. What others think of you is none of your business
We all have heard the phrase “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me.” For some people, that’s true. But others are insecure about themselves and take great stock in what other people have to say about them. They go to great lengths to try to cover their so-called flaws and impress other people. When they fail to do so, it leaves them feeling crushed. The Bible tells us, though, that we don’t have to worry about what other people may think about us. Psalm 139:14 says:
“I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.”
As the old saying goes, “God doesn’t make mistakes.” Each of us is made in God’s image, and purposefully given each attribute we possess. It doesn’t matter what people say—you are the way you are because God made you that way, and we should never apologize for our “flaws” or try to cover them up.
3. Time heals almost everything
Maybe it’s the loss of a loved one or a falling out with a friend or relative—whatever the case, you’re bound to go through periods of anger or mourning in our lives that robs us of our joy. The good news, however, is that it won’t last forever. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says:
“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven”
If you find yourself struggling with anger or sadness, immerse yourself in God’s word and allow it time to “sink in.” You’ll soon find that whatever grief you possess will eventually fade away.
4. Don’t compare your life to others, and don’t judge them
We as humans tend to be quick to dish out judgement on other people—we often feel we know more about them that we really do—and a lot of the judgement we deliver is often based on our limited life experiences. This behavior, however, is unproductive and will only serve to cause strife between the parties involved. The Bible tells us how we should really conduct ourselves in the presence of others. Titus 3:2 says:
“to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.”
When we choose to share God’s love and forgiveness with others, we can build healthy relationships with others that will stand the test of time.
5. It’s alright to not know the answers
Let’s face it—we like to be in control of what happens around us. Unfortunately life often has different plans. When we are faced with dire circumstances—job losses, the death of a family member, and so on—we often find ourselves asking the question, “Why did this have to happen?” in an effort to gain control of the situation. Sometimes, despite all of our searching, we may never find the answers—and that’s okay! Proverbs 3:5-6 says:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”
When we place our faith and trust in God, we can be assured that everything that happens to us is God’s purpose, and that He can use it to work great things in our lives later on.
6. You are in charge of your happiness
As previously stated, many of us have experienced great turmoil as some point. When faced with such circumstances, we often focus a lot on the negative and forget about the positive that is still present in our lives. Consider the apostle Paul. Philippians 4:11 says:
“Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.”
In this passage, Paul was writing to the church at Philippi. Apparently, the church had shown great concern for Paul and his condition—he was stricken with a persistent physical aliment of some kind, and often experienced beatings and imprisonment during his various journeys. Despite it all, however, Paul kept a positive outlook on life. He rejoiced that he was still afforded an opportunity by God to share the Gospel message. We should strive to be more like Paul and in times of distress, focus more on the positive aspects of life that God bestows upon us.
7. Smile—you don’t own all the problems in the world
When we eventually experience turmoil in our lives, we often make that turmoil out to be worse than it really is. We ourselves turn it into something much worse that eats us up from the inside. But it helps to take a moment to stop and realize once again that there is still good things present in our lives. Psalm 118:24 says:
“This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
God himself has given you this day—you’re alive, breathing, and blessed with so much more that any of us could ever deserve. Let us never take each day for granted.
Conclusion
As you can see, the Bible is the perfect road map for our lives. If you are currently experiencing turmoil in your life, immerse yourself in God’s word and try applying the truths found in each of these verses. You can live a life of happiness and peace knowing that God has everything under control—you just have to trust in Him!