Do Not Conform To The Patterns Of This World, But Rise Above Them, Being A Light.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world." Romans 12:2

 In this world that we live in, there is quite a bit of negativity surrounding us, there are un-Godly standards that we are expected to live up to, not to mention the overall busyness of everybody's lives. But let me ask you a question, are you allowing yourself "to conform to the pattern of this world?" Or are you stepping up and being the difference; the light that this world needs?
 Now, how is it that we are able to shine that light? How are we able to keep our light, our joy, and our happiness that makes us different when there is so much negativity surrounding us? Well, let me tell you today; you are the one that makes the choice to let the negativity overcome you, no one and nothing else can make that happen. So what would you rather choose; to dwell in the negativity of this world, or to rest in the promises that God has for us? Hopefully you chose the second option, because if you did, it is really quite simple on what you need to do. You see, even with all of the news channels, magazine covers, and newspapers proclaiming the negativity that you are trying to avoid, you can rise above it. You can keep the joy that God promised you, and rest in the fact that He told us, "in this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) See, God knew that we would be faced with all of this, and He told us that, when we are, we need to keep that joy that He has given us, we need to rest in His peace, and live the wonderful life that He has for us in the positivity that He has waiting, for He has already overcome the world.
 Now, when it comes to the un-Godly standards that we are expected to conform to, the way people are dressed, what some watch on TV or online, some attitudes, or just the feeling that we need to be like them, look like them, or act like them, you don't have to become any of these things! But rather, you, my friend, can rise above it. You can rejoice in the person that God has created you to be, a person in His image, a person that He is proud of, a person whose actions make Him smile. You can show people, by being the different and unique person that God has created you to be, that you have a joy, a happiness, and a light about you that they do not; a light, a joy, and a happiness that they want.
 And lastly, in all the busyness of our daily lives, we need to make sure that we are making time for the one who has given us this life in the first place. We have to make sure that we are talking with Him, and not only that, but we have to make sure that we are listening.
 So take these steps today, and watch God transform you into the person that He has you to be; the person that does not "conform to the pattern of this world," but rather brings a much needed light and positivity to it.