Today’s verse: Philippians 4:8-9 (the Message)
“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.”
With God in as our center, keeping our thoughts positive is one of my takes on this verse. It sounds so simple, but can be difficult to achieve. I personally know that when I am in a positive frame of mind, life is a little easier. Keeping a positive train of thought is another life lesson that I am still working on.
I recently found an old copy of Norman Vincent Peale’s book “The Power of Positive Thinking”. In the book he shares his formula for keeping positive thought. The three steps are 1: Prayerize, 2: Picturize and 3: Actualize. He says if you fill your mind with faith it will shove out fear When I read this I think of the verse from Mark, Mark 11:24 “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” It is the true believing that I am working on. I need to stop questioning and doubting, which seem to come easier to me that keeping positive thoughts.
Buddha covered the topic also, Some quotes attributed to him are:
“He is able who thinks he is able.”
“Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own thoughts, unguarded. But once mastered, no one can help you as much.”
What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow: Our life is the creation of our mind.”
Some people refer to this way of thinking as the Law of Attraction. Basically, the Law of Attraction is the idea that positive or negative thoughts bring positive or negative experiences into a person's life. Many books have been written on the subject. One of the most popular ones that I read years ago is “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne, It was even made into a movie.
Proverbs 17:22 states: “A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired”
I guess the choice is ours. Do we want a cheerful disposition or to go through life being bone-tired!
Let’s follow Paul’s advice in the verse at the top. Take some time today to pray, asking God to help us let go of the negative and downcast thoughts, asking Him to help us focus on what is good and beautiful. Take some time to find things to praise and delight in, and share this happiness with those around you.
Peace,