Yesterday
Brother Bill delivered a driving message on thinking right. I would
like to share some points he made, and hope it will stir each one of
us to consider the way we think. How we think determines how we feel.
We can have a positive attitude that gives us an optimistic look on
life or we can have a negative attitude that continually keeps us
buried under a pile of emotional rubble. When something positive
happens to a negative person, they find what is negative in it. When
something negative happens to a positive person, they find something
positive in it! This second kind of attitude speaks hope and life. If
we want to live a joyful and abundant life―one that spills over
with spontaneous faith, we must work to have a positive attitude.
Correct
thinking is essential to living a joyful and victorious life in
Christ. “Brothers and sisters,” Paul declared, “whatever is
true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent
or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8, NIV).
If we will keep our minds focused on God's truth―on whatever is
godly, uplifting, and joyful, we will learn to have a positive
attitude. To develop an optimistic spirit, we must be changed in the
attitude of our minds (Ephesians 4:23). This takes perseverance and
determination.
We
must take responsibility for our own thinking. “We demolish
arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the
knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it
obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5, NIV). It is impossible to
stop the fiery darts that the enemy throws into our minds, but we can
learn to make those thoughts be obedient to what the Word teaches. It
is possible to have the power to bring them under the control of the
Holy Spirit. This is learned when we practice the presence of God.
Our minds are focused on Him, and not where our minds might lead us.
This brings His peace in the midst of our storms (Isaiah 26:3).
We
can't determine what happens to us, but we can determine what happens
in us. There is no way we can control life or our circumstances, but
we can learn to control what happens in our minds as a result. When
we learn to take our negative thoughts captive, we change the way
that we think. Not only are we able to say, “I can do all this
through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13), but we can
believe without doubt that He will give us His strength. Facing our
circumstances with faith that comes from a mind that has been
transformed, we can live life with a positive and joyful
attitude―able to determine God's good pleasing and perfect will
(Romans 12:1-2).
If
you and I will think right, talk right, do right, then we will feel
right! If you are weak, then say you are strong (Joel 3:10).
Cultivate your mind! Plow it up and rethink yourself. Don't dwell on
the negative anymore. Allow the Word to transform your way of
thinking. Determine to believe that Jesus Christ is greater in you
than any negativity that rises in your mind. He can capture each
thought and move that mountain of negativity. “Truly I tell you,”
Jesus imparted, “if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you
can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will
move. Nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20, NIV).
It
is never impossible to be changed in the attitude of your mind. When
you surrender control and allow the Holy Spirit to change you from
the inside out, you can get rid of what Brother Bill calls “stinkin'
thinkin''! Be changed and renewed, and tell your negative mountain
to move.
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