Focus on the Good not the Evil and watch your attiude turn from gloom to bloom

Philippians 4:8 NKJV

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

“We choose what attitudes we have right now. And it’s a continuing choice.” – John Maxwell

“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.”

Jesus knows how you are thinking

Our Lord knows how we are feeling and what we are thinking. You don’t need to hide your struggles in this area. Instead, bring this to the Lord. Pray that He allows you to see things that are affecting your thought life in a negative way and pray to be more positive in your thought life.

1. Mark 2:8 “Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things?”

The way that we think will affect how we react to bad news and disappointments. In trials our thinking can lead to depression or it can lead to us joyfully praising the Lord. We have to make a practice of renewing our minds. In my life I’ve had trials lead to a sense of despair. However, as I made a practice of renewing my mind I’ve noticed that the same trials that once led me to despair were leading me to praise the Lord.

I trusted in His sovereignty. Although there was slight disappointment there was joy and peace because my thinking changed. I knew that Christ was supreme over my situation, He loved me in my situation, and His love was greater than my situation. I knew that He understood me because He’s been through the same things that I’ve been through. These truths that we see in Scripture can be just words or they can be a reality in your life! I want reality and I want to experience the love of God that I see in Scripture! Let’s pray today that the Lord allows us to have His heart and mind. Having the heart and mind of God will affect every aspect of your life.

Proverbs 17:22 NASB95

A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.

but studies have shown that positive thinking helps heart patients. The mind/body connection is extremely strong. Your thoughts can affect any physical pain that you have in your life. Some people get severe panic attacks and blood pressure spikes that is initiated solely by their thoughts. Thus the cycle, you think ->  you feel -> you do.

“Cheerfulness sharpens the edge and removes the rust from the mind. A joyous heart supplies oil to our inward machinery, and makes the whole of our powers work with ease and efficiency; hence it is of the utmost importance that we maintain a contented, cheerful, genial disposition.” – James H. Aughey

Proverbs 15:13 “A joyful heart makes a cheerful countenance, but sorrow of the heart crushes the spirit.”

There is power in the tongue

Watch what you are saying to yourself. Are you speaking life or death to yourself? As believers, we should be reminding ourselves daily of who we are in Christ. We should remind ourselves of how much He loves us. We are told to speak kind words to others, but for some reason we have trouble speaking kind words to ourselves. Encouraging others is easy for us, but encouraging ourselves is such a struggle.

The more that you associate yourself with positivity the more positive that you become. If you speak something to yourself enough times, you will eventually believe it. If you are speaking death into your life, you will become more and more pessimistic. Eventually you will feel that you are the negative words that you are speaking to yourself. If you speak positivity in your life you will grow into being a positive person. Studies have shown that people who stop negative self-talk also notice reduced stress levels.

Make a practice of speaking encouraging words to yourself and I guarantee that you will notice a difference in your mood. The great thing about making this a practice is that others will begin to notice. It will become contagious and others around you will become more positive as well.

Proverbs 16:24 “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”

Proverbs 12:25 “Anxiety weighs down the heart of a man, but a good word cheers it up.”

Proverbs 18:21 “The power of the tongue is life and death—those who love to talk will eat what it produces.”

It’s time to make war with your thoughts

Start identifying all of the negativity in your thought life. Now that you identified the negativity it’s now time to fight against it. Whether you are struggling with self-criticism, lust, or pessimism, cast all those negative thoughts down. Don’t dwell on them. Change the scenery in your mind. Make a habit of dwelling on Christ and His Word. This might seem like stuff that you have already heard before. However, it works and it’s practical.

You have to set up a healthy environment in your mind if you want to produce fruits of positivity. If you catch yourself criticizing yourself, then stop and say something positive about yourself using God’s Word. Take every thought captive and always remember this truth. You are who God says you are. He says you are redeemed, loved, fearfully and wonderfully made, chosen, a light, a new creation, a royal priesthood, a people for His own possession, etc.

Philippians 4:8 “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

Colossians 3:1-2 “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

2 Corinthians 10:5 “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

Ephesians 4:23 “Let the Spirit change your way of thinking.”