What If...30 Days to Powerful New Perspective

R. Guido David

Description

What If...30 Days to Powerful New Perspective looks at common situations we face and how these events can cause us at times to react negatively. By asking "What If" in these situations, then relying on the power of prayer and Scripture, we are instead able to respond positively, reflecting Christ's love. This new perspective is sure to fill your heart with even more of His peace, love and joy!

Sujets

• Bibles
• Philosophie et théologie
• Prayer in Christianity
• Prayer
• Bible

Informations

• Publié par: First Edition Design Publishing
• Date de parution: 01 octobre 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781506902579
• Langue: English

Extrait

What If…
30 DAYS TO POWERFUL NEW PERSPECTIVE

David R. Guido
What if… 30 Days to Powerful New Perspective
Copyright ©2016 David R. Guido
ISBN 978-1506-902-56-2 PRINT
ISBN 978-1506-902-57-9 EBOOK
LCCN 2016945833
July 2016
Published and Distributed by
First Edition Design Publishing, Inc.
P.O. Box 20217, Sarasota, FL 34276-3217
www.firsteditiondesignpublishing.com



ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means ─ electronic, mechanical, photo-copy, recording, or any other ─ except brief quotation in reviews, without the prior permission of the author or publisher.

All Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
This book is dedicated to my beautiful wife, Rebecca. I would not be a published author if not for your strength and support. You’re my best friend and believed in me and this book even when I didn’t. Thank you and I love you!
Acknowledgements

To my son Michael and my step-daughter Madison; thank you for being champions of my cause; your passion and support mean the world to me and I love you both.
Thank you to Rick Butor, my mentor as I started my walk with Christ and now my dear friend; for holding me accountable to complete this work and for your tremendous help with the content.
A special thank you to Pastor DeWayne Owens, for writing the Foreword of this book and providing me with incredible insight into the bible verses that would best serve the reader, his contributions have been invaluable.
Barbara Lynn Keene was the first person to edit this manuscript and provide the kind of enthusiastic feedback that motivates an author to proceed forward and commit to their project. Thank you Barbara!
Thank you to Debi and the staff at First Edition Design Publishing for turning my words into a finished product for the reader. Without you I’d still have a manuscript on my desk and little else. You were so wonderful to work with!
Thank you to you, the reader. Without you this book is not read and my hope and prayer is that it impacts, inspires, serves and empowers you.
Last but first, I thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If not for Him saving me in 2012, this book never even materializes in my mind and certainly not in print. I asked Him to speak through me as I wrote and I know He has.
Forward

Periodically there comes along a work of literature that gives every reader of it a “wake up” call. David Guido, the author of “What If?” has compiled such a work of literature. The word “if” is the shortest word in the English language with the broadest meaning. The word ‘if” is conditional with a myriad of options connected to it. Wisdom dictates that we should embrace the best option to any unexpected condition that befalls us. David Guido shows us from a biblical perspective HOW to select the most positive option in the midst of a negative situation.
This beautiful book encourages the heart through biblical principles on how to respond positively to situations and circumstances that are troubling to us. “What If?” prepares our heart, mind, and attitude for the inevitable concerning situations described through hypotheticals. Although hypotheticals are utilized in these devotionals, there are instances where David Guido mentions true events. The importance of asking what if hypotheticals cannot be underestimated. Hypotheticals are the styles of questioning that most employers ask interviewees in order to discover how a potential employee will react in certain situations. The ability of a potential employee to know in advance how he or she is going to respond in hypothetical scenarios is critical in increasing their chances of being hired. The determining question is whether they are going to respond in a beneficial fashion that preserves the integrity of the company.
David Guido gives us the opportunity to preserve the integrity of our Christian walk by responding to negative situations in a manner that reflects Christ’s image and likeness. “What If?” reminds us that we are all human and susceptible to committing acts that are offensive or disturbing to others as well as others being able to exhibit the same behavior towards us. What makes Christians distinctive from non-Christians, as David Guido so eloquently points out from the Scriptures is that we are commanded not to react to disturbing events out of frustration, but to respond to them in love. By asking the what if questions in advance, it gives us the ability to actually prepare ourselves for certain instances to pre-adjust our attitude before the events take place. “What If?” pre-conditions the heart to not pre-judge and make assumptions based upon our limited knowledge and understanding of others in the midst of bad situations.
What I love most about “What If?” is David Guido ’s rapid solution to a wise and successful solution to any involvement in an adverse situation; turn to God as quickly as you can when you are caught up in it. Although we as humans, even Christians, may struggle with our natural mental tolerances for others, God’s divine intervention will supernaturally and quickly guard our hearts and mind and give us a holy countenance to handle every situation with a peaceful spirit.
David Guido ’s hypothetical situations and biblical responses to them are worthy of study and the return on investment in this book is invaluable. David, my friend I commend you for personally giving me a “wake up” call through this book and for reminding us all that there is always a better way to respond to any given situation as opposed to our natural reactions to them.

DeWayne Owens
Official Chaplain, Zig Ziglar Legacy Certification Program
Speaker and Author
Introduction

It’s 7:45 on a Wednesday morning. You woke up late, the dog messed in the house, the kids wouldn’t cooperate, the meeting you’re going to be late for is with people you don’t want to meet with; in short this day isn’t starting well and it’s prospects for getting better are bleak. As you make your way down the highway all of a sudden, BAM! You are cut off by someone going 20+ miles per hour over the speed limit and they just miss your front bumper. What is your first reaction? Anger? Bitterness? Judgement? When you arrive at the office, what is your mood?
For decades, most of my life in fact, I was the person who, in the situation described above (or most any other similar situation), “reacted” with anger, bitterness and judgement; and when I got wherever I was going I would angrily describe the great wrong committed against me. I would rant, rave, vent and without question negatively affect many if not all of the people around me. Then one day it all changed for me.
I saw a story on the internet about someone who frantically was trying to get to the hospital to see a loved one (a partner I believe) who had been in an accident and for whom there was no hope of survival. The individual driving like a NASCAR driver to get to the hospital wanted to say goodbye while their loved one was still alive. As I considered this sad and unfortunate situation, I began to think to myself, “I wonder how many people the driver cut off trying to get to the hospital; and how many of those people who were cut off understood what was happening?” It also occurred to me in that moment that, if the people who were cut off knew what was actually happening, they probably would have been far more sympathetic and understanding about being cut off then they would be angry. At that point, this book was born!
What if, when things happen, we “respond” instead of “react?” If we believe things are happening around us and not to us? Once I started responding instead of reacting, I found I was kinder, more sympathetic, less angry, less judgmental, less stressed and more productive in all areas of my life. I didn’t bring people down around me; and I found myself growing closer to God. Now when things happen that used to stress me out, I take a deep breath, consider the alternatives that may be happening, I tell myself that it is not about me, I pray for the other person and I am far happier and experience far greater peace.
This book is designed to be read one day at at time - for 30 days - in a devotional format. I encourage you to read the story for the day, consider the recommended prayer, read the suggested Bible verse; and then meditate and pray on how applicable the day’s lesson is for you. On the opposite page you will find space to then journal. Here you can record your thoughts, other similar situations to the day’s story that resonate with you, additional or alternative prayers you can say, additional Bible verses that strike you; or anything else. It is your space to write what is on your heart as you reflect.
For those who would like to incorporate this into a Bible Study group, a Youth Group, etc.; I would recommend doing 3-5 “days” per week (for a 6 to 10-week study program) and use the suggested Bible verses for verse memorization. Encourage members of the group to come to the class/session with additional examples that are not included in the book.
For those of you who are not inclined to pray and/or read Bible verses, this book can still benefit you, simply from the perspective of looking at situations that typically anger us, stress us out, etc. in a different light that bring kindness, sympathy, happiness and peace to your heart. Whether you are “spiritual” or “religious” or not, we all want to be kinder, less stressed, happier and at peace. The lessons from each day, even without the prayer and Bible verse, can provide that to you if you allow it.
Thank you so much for reading What If…30 Days to Powerful New Perspective! I am honored and consider it a blessing that you have purchased this boo