Using positive thoughts can change your life. You see, things have a way of working themselves out if you just remain positive. Your strength in life can be the ability to keep negative thoughts out of your mind. Darrin Donnelly writes in his book Optimism that “The people who succeed aren’t the ones who avoid failure, they are the ones who learn how to respond to failure with optimism.”
Optimism is “having hope and confidence about the future success of something.” It is also seeing the positive side of things. People who have positive thoughts expect things to turn out well. They believe they have the skills and abilities to make good things happen.
You can find a better way of thinking as seen in the biblical life of Paul who wrote about “being renewed in the spirit of your mind.” He said when you pray, ask “God to renew your mind.” A renewed mind is purged of toxic messages from the past and challenges that damage self-talk.
Your goal is to realize that God, through the power of his spirit, gives each person the ability to picture things in the way he pictures them. Every person needs a transformation of the mind to have the mind God intended for them to have. Dr. Lloyd Ogilvie, the former chaplain of the US Senate, said, “Each of us needs to surrender our mind to God.” Doing so is an opportunity for you to change messages that are keeping you stuck on negative thinking.
As we approach the celebration of Christmas, let’s be reminded of what the contents of our thoughts should be during the holiday season. The Apostle Paul said, “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 thing.”
We are encouraged to have positive thoughts for maintaining a healthy mind, body and soul by a renewed mind. So, as you approach this Christmas season, think positively whenever you are deciding on gifts to purchase, entertaining family and friends, or just doing your shopping. And remember, positive thoughts will be your source of strength for making good decisions and a good life. So, Never Give Up! Never Give Up! Never Give Up!
By Dr. Walter Ghosten
chaplain@lhp.net
