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I read a daily devotion, Until Today by Iyanla
Vanzant. I enjoy reading it, but sometimes disagree with the “spiritual” advice because it doesn't always seem Christian-based. So, I take the nuggets of truth and pitch
the rest.
Today’s reading was about the power of positive thinking and
how you should focus on the positives, not negatives, because your life will go
whichever way you think. In one way, the author had a point. I do know people
who constantly look on the dark side and it seems that one problem after another
comes to them and then they wallow in misery. On the other hand, I know people
who are positive people that are dealt blows. But, just to say “think positive
thoughts” – well, that is self-centered, shallow advice.
BLUF: Trouble comes to all. It is how we respond that
matters. Simply turning to positive-thinking is not the answer. The answer is
putting your trust in the positive power of Jesus. Because of God’s love for us,
we can give up the problems of this world to him. Then we are freed from worry
and negative thoughts, thus living a positive life.
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Self-Reflection:
I’m pretty much a positive person. I do give up most of my
worry to God through prayer, but I have to admit that I have been negative
lately about my writing. In particular, about my book (my first novel). The lack
of progress on the revision weighs on me. I don’t want to work on it, even
though I’m close to finishing it.
Negative thoughts creep in:
Who will want to read
it?
It’s not
important.
It’s not good
enough.
All this is rubbish. Don’t I know that God himself anointed
the book? Don’t I know that God himself anointed me to write? Don’t I remember
the moment that God called me to write? Can’t God use my book to plant his seeds
of truth even though it is fiction?
The answer to these questions is YES, YES, YES,
YES!
Prayer: Lord God, take my negative thoughts and banish them.
You are in control of my life and my book. You can and will use whatever I write
to glorify you. Give me a positive outlook. Give me the will to finish the book
with a happy heart. In your strength, I can do it! In Jesus’ name,
Amen!
I'm a very spiritual person, though I don't consider myself a follower of any one religion. I've dealt with the issues of trying to reconcile positive thinking and faith with the hard knocks life throws out.
ReplyDeleteFor me, it's about two things. Control and outlook.
We have no control in life over anything but our own responses. Life is about how we choose to respond to what is thrown at us.
As for outlook, this is where positive thought comes in. I know people who've been born with many more advantages in life than myself, who have no money worries, and are miserable. And I know people who have been through horrible events and loss, but are the most content and happy people I know.
There are two ways to look at it. One, that keeping positive things in your mind literally brings these things to you, whether that's through prayer or something else. Two, that the mind sees what you tell it to see. If you teach your mind that eveyrthing around you is bad, it will seek out only the bad side to things, and draw you to more bad events. But if you keep positive, healthy thoughts, your mind sees the good in life and draws you to more good things.
It is a question of faith, whether your faith is in God, Allah, Buddah, or even just your own innter strength. Faith that no matter what we're faced with in life, we will prevail, there is a purpose to all things, and what's meant for us will come to us so long as we are willing to accept it.
Paul, Thanks for your thoughtful comment. I try very hard to be positive and to see good in life. For me, it is a relief to know, though, that I do not have to rely on my own inner strength. I have God to turn to.
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This is great. I, too, have read spiritual authors who have good points, but shaky solutions. Christ is the only answer for me, too. We can't solve/heal anything on our own.
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