As a college student studying in France, I joined with a few other Americans on July 4^th to celebrate our nation’s independence by indulging in our best efforts to replicate typical American food:  sliced white bread (unheard of in the land of the French baguette!) and peanut butter!

No matter where you are or how new you are to your community, many of you will be celebrating freedom and independence this month. Apple pie and fireworks are easy enough to come by, but are you able to celebrate the freedom to live above your circumstances? Are your circumstances and your resentment of them holding you prisoner and robbing you of your joy? Susan Miller, in her book, 'But Mom, I Don’t Want to Move!' urges the mover to move again, but this time to move to...

A Place Of Trust
In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid.
- Psalm 56:4 
...I trust in You, O Lord... My times are in Your hand.
- Psalm 31:14-15

Are you afraid to trust your unknown future to God? At a time when everything around you is changing, put your trust in an unchanging God who will not fail you or leave you, and who even prepares a place for you. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. 

A Place Of Confidence
Therefore let us draw near with confidence... that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
- Hebrews 4:16

Trusting God with all your heart moves you to a place of confidence in Him. This is a confidence that says you are trusting in His will and plan for you and your family. Just as light shining through a prism is magnified and touches everything around a room, God’s light shines through you and touches everything around you. Look for God’s touch everywhere in your life.

A Place Of Acceptance
For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not see are eternal.
- 2 Corinthians 4:18

It is easier to accept your circumstances when your total trust and confidence are in God and not in what is happening in your life at the time.

A Place Of Contentment
I have learned to be content in whatever circumstance I am - Philippians 4:11

Contentment truly is a state of the heart and has nothing to do with the state we live in. Shift your focus from what may be going wrong to what is going right and what really matters in life. It may not be your way or your timing, but God will work it all out in His timing.

A Place Of Peace
And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
- Philippians 4:7

An inner peace comes from trusting God in all things, having confidence in His plan, accepting your circumstances, and feeling contentment in your heart regardless of your situation. Someone once said, 'The peace of God is not the absence of problems; it is the presence of divine sufficiency in the midst of problems.'

A Place Of Gratitude
I will give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and will glorify Your name forever. For Your loving kindness toward me is great.
- Psalm 86:12-13

It is good to thank the Lord for every day He gives you. As the day begins, you can look ahead in faith and thank Him for His loving-kindness. As the day ends, you can look back and thank Him for His faithfulness. Don’t let the things that aren’t good about this move rob you of all the things that are good.  Don’t wait to feel grateful. Make the choice to be grateful.  Remember that the feeling of gratefulness will follow the choice to be grateful. Gratitude will bring you back to Jesus.  Go back to Him and thank Him for all your blessings. Start from there and then move forward.