Have
you ever stopped to think that how you think determines how you feel?
You can have a positive attitude that gives you an optimistic look on
life or you can have a negative attitude that continually keeps you
buried under a pile of emotional rubble. If you are a negative person
you can always find something wrong with something positive. If you
are a positive person you can find something positive in the
negative. A positive attitude speaks hope and life. If you want to
live a joyful and abundant life―one that spills over with
spontaneous faith, you must work to have a positive attitude.
Thinking
correctly 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 you will keep your mind focused on God's truth―on whatever is
godly, uplifting, and joyful, you will learn to have a positive
attitude. To develop an optimistic spirit, you must be changed in the
attitude of your mind (Ephesians 4:23). This takes determination and
perseverance. ”Let perseverance finish its work,” James writes,
“so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything”
(James 1:4, NIV).
Taking
responsibility for your own thinking is the first essential step. “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 at your mind, but you can
learn to make those thoughts become 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 you practice the
presence of God. When your mind is focused on Him, and not where your
runaway thoughts might lead you, you rest in His peace (Isaiah 26:3).
You
can't determine what happens, but you can determine if your attitude
changes or not. There is no way you can control circumstances, but
you can learn to control what happens in your mind as a result. When
you learn to take your negative thoughts captive, you change the way
that you think. Not only are you able to say, “I can do all this
through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13), but you can
believe without a doubt that He will give you His strength. When
facing your circumstances with faith that comes from a mind that has
been transformed, you 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 will think right, you will feel right. Cultivate your mind! Plow
it up and rethink the way you have always thought. 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. 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 that negative attitude. You are learn to rethink who you are!
Be changed and renewed!
No comments:
Post a Comment