Emotions

Living Beyond Your Feelings

On any given day, we may feel good or bad, happy or sad, excited or discouraged, and a thousand other things. Although feelings can be very strong and demanding, we do not have to let them rule our lives.

We can learn to manage our emotions rather than allowing them to manage us. This has been one of the most important biblical truths I have learned in my journey with God. It has also been one that allows me to consistently enjoy my life.

If we have to wait to see how we feel before we know if we can enjoy the day, then we are giving feelings control over us. But thankfully, we have free will and can make decisions that are not based on feelings. If we are willing to make right choices regardless of how we feel, God will always be faithful to give us the strength to do so.

Prayer of Thanks: Father, I thank You that I no longer have to let my feelings control me. I am so grateful that I don’t have to wait to see how I feel every day before I know how to act. With Your help, I am going to live beyond my feelings—I’m going to live the joy-filled life Jesus came to give me!

Worry Less, Pray More

Living at Peace

**Don't worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything. ***

Peace is one of the most important elements to enjoying your life.

A life of frustration and struggle, a life without peace, is the result of focusing on things you can’t do anything about. When you worry about things beyond your control, stress and anxiety begin to creep into your life.

The apostle Paul said, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV).

Once we realize we are struggling with something and feel upset, we need to start praying and immediately turn the situation over to God, thankful He will provide according to His will and offer us peace. You and I are not called to a life of frustration and struggle. Jesus came so we could have righteousness, joy, and peace!

Prayer of Thanks: Father, I am grateful for peace. It is a wonderful gift that You have given me, and I ask for Your help to always be peaceful in every situation.

Whose Ways are Right

A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.
Proverbs 21:2 NIV

We all have moments where we think we know best. Some people even think they know better than God. They know what God says is right but do what they think is right regardless if it is within God’s guidelines for us or not. But when we do wrong, God will weigh on our hearts. We will feel that something is wrong, guilty, and lost. Remember, God's way is always right. If you keep that in mind, you can avoid that weight on your heart as much as possible!

Let the Past Be the Past

Let Your Mess Become Your Message

I encourage people to let go of their past, but never to run from it. The only way to gain victory over the pain of our past is to let God walk us back through that doorway of pain and into victory. No one can achieve victory for us; we have to work out our own salvation. Paul explained this truth in his letter to the Philippian church, saying:

"Therefore, my dear ones . . . work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ). [Not inyour own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight" (PHILIPPIANS 2:12,13 AMP).

We have to let God take us through things and let Him work in us so our mess becomes our message. Difficult things that we have endured in our past prepare us for God's blessings in our future.

From the book New Day, New You by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2007 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

Willpower

Willpower: The Fair-weather Friend

Willpower sure sounds like a great thing. We are led to believe that we have enough of it to fight off every temptation that comes our way. And sometimes it works. But let me tell you a little secret about willpower. Willpower is your best friend when things go well, but it's the first friend to check out when you get weary. I have found that if I really don't want to do something, my mind gives me plenty of reasons why I don't have to. My emotions even join in, saying, "I agree because I don't feel like doing it anyway."

Our soul (mind, will, emotions) would love to run our lives, but the Bible says we are to be led by God's Spirit. We are never instructed to be willpower-led, we are told to be Spirit-led. Willpower and discipline are important and vitally necessary to a successful life, but willpower alone won't be enough. Determination gets you started and keeps you going for awhile, but it is never enough to bring you across the finish line. Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV) says, "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts."

What happens if, instead of turning first to willpower in your time of need, you turn to God instead? God releases His power into your willpower and energizes it to bring you across the finish line. Willpower does not get the credit for our success, God does. Jesus said in John 15:5 (AMP), "Apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing." This is one of the most important and most difficult lessons we must learn if we want to enjoy the life Jesus died to give us.

From the book New Day, New You by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2007 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

Willpower

Willpower: The Fair-weather Friend

Willpower sure sounds like a great thing. We are led to believe that we have enough of it to fight off every temptation that comes our way. And sometimes it works. But let me tell you a little secret about willpower. Willpower is your best friend when things go well, but it's the first friend to check out when you get weary. I have found that if I really don't want to do something, my mind gives me plenty of reasons why I don't have to. My emotions even join in, saying, "I agree because I don't feel like doing it anyway."

Our soul (mind, will, emotions) would love to run our lives, but the Bible says we are to be led by God's Spirit. We are never instructed to be willpower-led, we are told to be Spirit-led. Willpower and discipline are important and vitally necessary to a successful life, but willpower alone won't be enough. Determination gets you started and keeps you going for awhile, but it is never enough to bring you across the finish line. Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV) says, "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts."

What happens if, instead of turning first to willpower in your time of need, you turn to God instead? God releases His power into your willpower and energizes it to bring you across the finish line. Willpower does not get the credit for our success, God does. Jesus said in John 15:5 (AMP), "Apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing." This is one of the most important and most difficult lessons we must learn if we want to enjoy the life Jesus died to give us.

From the book New Day, New You by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2007 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

Love One Another

Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. (NLT) -Romans 12:10

How sad it is to see Christians persecuting others for their religion. Of course, it's important to share our faith, but we need to do it as a light to others through love. Desecrating other religions only ostracizes and angers its followers further from wanting to learn more about the love of Christ. Use your faith for good. Respect others and keep the golden rule in mind - love one another.

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Smooth Out My Day, Lord

But for those who are righteous, the way is not steep and rough. You are a God who does what is right, and you smooth out the path ahead of them. (NLT) -Isaiah 26:7

If you know that today is going to be a hard day, take comfort in this verse. Say a prayer to ask God to smooth out the day ahead of you. He will go before you and orchestrate circumstances, attitudes, and actions. Be encouraged this morning as you prepare to face your day and know that because of your faith, it will not be steep and rough.

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Worn Out

Come Apart to Stay Together

If you're feeling compelled to do so much that you are physically worn out, you may be driven instead of led. Remember, you have to come apart from a busy routine before you come apart yourself. You have to get away from everything before you come apart physically, mentally, and emotionally. Give yourself time to get a good night's sleep.

It is tempting to do everything that everybody else is doing, be involved in everything, know everything, hear everything, and be everywhere, but it isn't God's best for you. Be willing to separate yourself from the compulsive activity before you come apart at the seams! Spend time with God, and ask Him to give order to your day.

From the book Starting Your Day Right by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2003 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

God is Never Late

In Due Season

"Due season" is God's season, not ours. We are in a hurry, God isn't. He takes time to do things right - He lays a solid foundation before He attempts to build a building. We are God's building under construction. He is the Master Builder, and He knows what He is doing. We may not know what He is doing, but He does, and that will have to be good enough. We may not always know, but we can be satisfied to know the One who knows.

God's timing seems to be His own little secret. The Bible promises us that He will never be late, but I have also discovered that He is usually not early. It seems that He takes every available opportunity to develop the fruit of patience in us. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit that grows under trial.

Developed potential without character does not glorify God. If we were to become a huge success and yet be harsh with people - that would not be pleasing to the Lord. Therefore, if we get ahead of ourselves in one area, He gently but firmly blocks our progress in that area until the other ones catch up.

Remember: God is never late.

Pray: Lord, thank You for Your patience with me. I want everything now, but You are building my life with eternity in mind. I don't understand everything You're doing, but I trust You. Amen.

From the book The Confident Woman Devotional by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2011 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

Don't Lose Focus --Joyce Meyer

Don't Lose Focus

Sometimes we lose our focus. We can be walking in love all day, going along fine, until someone comes along and offends us. As soon as we forget our focus of love, we stop making progress and come to a standstill - aggravated, upset, and offended.

Understand that the mind is a battlefield. If you don't stop Satan when he gets into your thoughts, you are not going to stop him from getting into your life. Stay focused. Ask God to help you remain full of love, no matter what comes your way today.

From the book Starting Your Day Right by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2003 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

Temptation

Temptation Isn't Sin

Temptation to do wrong can make you feel horrible. You may think, I shouldn't be going through this; I shouldn't be having a problem with this. But God taught me that temptation isn't sin; we sin when we give in to temptation.

The Bible says temptation will come. It doesn't say, "Woe unto him to whom it comes," it says, "Woe unto him by whose hand it comes" (see Matthew 17:7). Jesus told us to pray that we would not give in to the temptation when we are tempted (see Luke 22:40).

Psalm 105:4 is a great way to start your day right. It says, "Seek, inquire of and for the Lord, and crave Him and His strength (His might and inflexibility to temptation); seek and require His face and His Presence [continually] evermore."

From the book Starting Your Day Right by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2003 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

Men VS Women: Short Devotional

What's the Difference?

The Bible encourages us to seek understanding. Read a couple of good books on the differences between men and women and also one on the differences in personalities. If you do, it may prevent thousands of arguments or misunderstandings.

Women offer unsolicited advice and give direction, and men usually don't take advice very well. The woman thinks she is just trying to help, but the man thinks she doesn't trust him to make the right decision.

When a woman disagrees with a man, he takes it as disapproval, and it ignites his defenses. Men only want advice after they have done everything they can do. Advice given too soon or too often causes him to lose his sense of power. He may become lazy or insecure.

Men are motivated and empowered when they feel needed. Women are motivated when they feel cherished.

Men are visual creatures; once an image is in their head, it's hard to get it out. Women are more inclined to remember emotions or how something made them feel.

Seek understanding first, then speak.

From the book The Confident Woman Devotional by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2011 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

Be Satisfied With God, Not Possessions

Be Fully Satisfied

Many people pursue possessions and awards to satisfy their inner need for contentment. But we can be fully satisfied in lean times and in times of abundance, whether we abase or abound (see Philippians 4:12), when we learn to enjoy fellowship with the Lord as soon as we wake up.

Before you are fully awake, you can start talking to God. Just thank Him for seeing you through yesterday, and for being with you today. Praise Him for providing for you, and for working out all the situations in your life for your good.

Ask Him to make you aware of His presence all day long. Peace fills your heart when your mind is on the Lord. Nothing is more satisfying than walking with God.

From the book Starting Your Day Right by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2003 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

Give And You Will Be Rewarded

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
-- Galatians 6:9 NIV

http://bible.com/111/gal.6.9.NIV

Sometimes we give all we have to help others and feel that is goes unappreciated. However, if you're doing good for God, it will never be unappreciated. God will always appreciate the good we do for Him and when the time is right, we will be rewarded. Be patient and continue your good work!

God Loves You

Today I am reading day 4 of Lecrae - The Overflow Devo: http://bible.com/r/5k and I wanted to share it with you all! Such a powerful message about how He loves us!

Lucky Ones - Lecrae

In the 1800’s a ragged-looking boy walked for miles through the snowy streets of Chicago, determined to attend a Bible class that was conducted by D.L. Moody. When he got there, he was asked, "Why did you come to a Sunday school so far away? Why didn't you go to one of the churches near your home?" He answered simply, "Because you love a fellow over here."

The Bible tells us in 1 John 4:8 that “God is love.” It is not simply that God “loves,” but that He is Love itself. Love is not merely one of His attributes but His very nature.

Many are ignorant as it pertains to God’s love, and because of this there is very little Real love for God among Christians. Most of our hearts don’t yearn for God because we don’t understand His love for us. The more we understand his love for us, the more our hearts will be drawn out into love for God.

“I love Lucy”. I love NY. NBA – “I love this Game”. TV – “I love money”. Everyone uses it, but few understand what depth love has. So when it comes to the LOVE of God or Divine LOVE, we just cut and paste their definitions on GOD.

For each of us, there is always an object of this affection of ours. But, whether we are saying, “I love pizza,” or “I love my wife,” with our love, there is always a reason or condition.

The first aspect of God’s love we must understand is that it is unconditional or uninfluenced. This means that there is nothing about the objects of God’s love that prompt Him or motivate Him to love them.

While we love people for reasons or conditions, God loves freely and spontaneously without conditions. He doesn’t love us cause we are cute or have money, or because we lived perfectly or did something right or pray everyday. He loves us because it’s His will to do so.

Deuteronomy 7:7-8 states, “It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you…” (ESV)

His love is sovereign. Because God is God, He does as He pleases; because God is love, He loves whom He pleases. God declares, “Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated” (Romans 9:19). Yet there was no more reason in Jacob why he should be the object of Divine love, than there was in Esau. We try to earn respect from people, and we fight for peoples’ love. We spend our lives trying to win over people – NOT GOD. THERE was NOTHING in me to attract the heart of God. My heart was deceitful and desperately wicked.

The only thing I motivated God to do was to hate me and throw me into the darkest pit of Hell. I did everything to repel him, everything to make him despise me – sinful, corrupt, no good thing in me.

Love was the reason that Brought Christ to Earth!

“FOR GOD SO LOVE THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON…” (John 3:16)

Christ DIED not to make God love us but BECAUSE HE DID love us!

If you ever doubt the LOVE of GOD you go back to the cross. You think God isn’t loving toward you? Go back and look at the Person of Christ.

Hear 'Lucky Ones' at TheOverflow.com

You Need Faith

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. (NLT) -Hebrews 11:6

When something bad happens to you, and you have faith in God, your attitude changes. You begin to figure out why God wants you to go through tough times and what He wants you to learn from it. When you see that bad situation happened for a reason, you begin to trust God even more. Eventually, you want to allow Him into more areas of your life. Sincerely seek the Lord today in prayer.

Note from me:
Sometimes people go to God when things go wrong,  some even blame Him. Yet at the same time, they claim to not believe in Him. You cannot expect God to get you out of your troubles if you do not believe in Him. However, by just having belief, or faith,  in God,  you will see your life change significantly. Even if the circumstances do not change,  your reactions will...because of God; and ultimately, you will be happier than you were without faith.

Be Patient and Wait for the Lord

Wait for the Lord ; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord .
----Psalm 27:14 NIV
http://bible.com/111/psa.27.14.NIV

So many if us get impatient when we want something, even pray for something, and it doesn't happen when we want it to.

It is key to remember these 2 things:
1. Our plans don't always equal His plans
2. If our plans are what God wants for us, they will happen on His time schedule and not our own.

God is always there with us and He hears all our prayers. Be patient. Trust Him. He will answer them at the right time.

Faith = Trust

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. (NLT) -Hebrews 11:1

Faith can be simplified to mean trust. It's trusting in God even though you can't see, smell, or touch Him. It's trusting that He loves you and will always have your best interest at heart. Once you believe that He loves you, it becomes easier to place more faith in Him. How are you faithfully trusting in God?

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Leave the Judgement to God

You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. (NLT) -John 8:15

It is so difficult not to judge. However, Jesus Christ showed it is possible not to judge others as a human being. Your own dog has this concept down pretty well. As you go through your day try to hone in and determine what areas you are more likely to judge. Be vigilant in your thoughts and attitudes that you can spot any duplicity in your thinking.

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We may think we know right from wrong and it's ok to help guide others, but we should never judge anyone else. Who are we to judge? God? I think not. He is the only one with the right to judge and He will judge all of us one day so do not take it upon yourself to do His job. None of us are without sin, therefore we cannot be hypocrites. Leave the judgement to God and do what He tells you to do, love one another!

Dreams

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. (NLT) -Proverbs 13:12

A dream can be a very good thing because it overcomes complacency and can fill you with life. When you dream, be purposeful about how you choose to include God. Keep Him smack in the middle of it all. Otherwise, your dream can take on an unhealthy desire, which can absorb your heart and mind away from God. Keep tweaking your dream and making sure you leave ample room for God to be in the center of it.

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Be sure to include God in all your dreams. If He doesn't have a place, then reevaluate those dreams! Include Him in all you do and all you dream to do!

Give

Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full--pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. (NLT) -Luke 6:38

Be generous with your generosity to others. Whether in word, deed, action, or object, gift others often. Yes, it's true some people will be more grateful than others. But we really shouldn't be giving solely to have someone indebted towards us. Your gift can be anything such as time, kind words, friendship, babysitting, transportation and on and on. The next time you find yourself clinging to something, that's the time to give it away. It will only come right back.

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When Someone Is Suffering

Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words. (NLT) -Job 2:13

Is a loved one walking through a difficult time? We try so hard to say the right thing to comfort. We desperately want to say words that will take all of the pain away. Sometimes, our words aren't enough and, perhaps, our words rub the wrong way. Mostly, the greatest comfort you can give is like that of Job's three friends. No one said a word but they sat with him. Is there a friend in your life who could use your presence today?

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This is My Command

This is my command: Love each other. (NLT) -John 15:17

Do you need to make amends with a friend? Take the time to express yourself and share your feelings. Once you've done this, then begin to work at building the relationship back. Be careful not to linger on the hurts. Be graceful and extend honor to the other person by giving them the benefit of the doubt. Care for your friend out of love.

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Love everyone on this earth! No matter their race, background, career, etc we should love each and every person and be willing to be there for them in any way we can.

Silver Coins

However, we don't want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us. (NLT) -Matthew 17:27

Would you be surprised to find a silver coin in a mouth of a fish? Well, these "silver coins" come to us in many forms each day. While we may work to earn it on earth by "throwing in a line", it is really a blessing from God to provide us with our daily bread. Let's live and work each day with passion and leave the "tax payment" worries to God.

Sharing this devotion from my daily devotion app!
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Nurture Your Faith

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches." (NLT) -Matthew 13:31-32

Are you nurturing your seed of faith? Do you regularly water, weed, and fertilize it for optimum growth? Steady plotting of spending time reading, praying and praising God will result in a beautiful tree of faith. Pretty soon your strong faith will be attractive to all who surround you. Start today with putting 15 minutes of your focus on God.

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Try starting a prayer journal. Write down your prayers, letters to God,  blessings, Bible verses, or anything that helps you spend time with God.

Trust God, Not Luck

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. (NLT) -Philippians 4:19

Do you look towards luck or superstition to have an impact on your circumstances? Don't you want more than a random chance of good fortune? God has a purpose in our lives and everything happens for a reason. It's always to draw your heart closer to Him. Work on uncrossing your fingers and instead say a prayer. There's more power in purpose than random chance!

From me: I know I used to be one to be superstitious with certain objects thinking they caused good or bad luck and I had to learn that behaviors and objects are not lucky or unlucky; God is working in our lives and He places events in our lives for a reason. We need to trust in Him and that He has a plan for each of us.

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Turn Your Hurt to Power

Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing. (NLT) -Proverbs 12:18

Whether you recognize it or not, you are not the only one walking around with hurts, scars and open wounds. If you are able to look beyond your hurts for a moment, you can then truly see how much power you have. You actually have the power to build someone up! As a result you will find healing in watching your powerful words become fuel for empowerment to the person you speak into.

I recommend downloading this daily devotion app! It gives you morning and evening devotion and you can even share it to Facebook or Twitter!

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Beautiful Blessings

This devotion is from my daily devotion app:

For the LORD is the one who shaped the mountains, stirs up the winds, and reveals his thoughts to mankind. He turns the light of dawn into darkness and treads on the heights of the earth. The LORD God of Heaven's Armies is his name! (NLT) -Amos 4:13

If you haven't noticed lately, we are surrounded by beauty every day. From deep blue oceans to chipper birds full of songs, all of it was created by God for His glory. With all of the earth singing His praises, He still shares Himself with us and pursues us. Let's give glory to God for all of the blessings He bestowed on us.

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Now i would like to add to this. I would like to encourage everyone to take at least 5-10min a day to just stop, go outside or look out a window and appreciate whatever you see: the height of the trees, the tops of the mountains, the little creek or shapes of the leaves. They each serve a purpose in our lives (oxygen, shelter, etc) that we so often take for granted. Take time to reflect on what God gave you.

I would like to encourage each of us to not only give glory and praise to the beauty He blessed us with on Earth through nature, but also by giving glory to the beauty He gave each one of us physically and emotionally. We all have beautiful, functional bodies regardless of our shape, size, color and handicap. We're alive because He gave us beautiful human bodies to inhabit! And He blessed us with beautiful, unique personalities! We are all so different and it's wonderful! Our differences balance each other, help us grow and make the world a much more wonderful and fun place! Praise God!!

Sharing Our Celebrations

And Nehemiah continued, "Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don't be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!" (NLT) -Nehemiah 8:10

Have you ever thought about giving to others when you celebrate? Do you incorporate generosity into celebration?

Isn't that a way to invite God into your celebration as well? The next time you get consumed with an event like throwing a party or Valentine's Day try to incorporate blessing those less fortunate as a way of honoring the celebration.

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