When I asked myself if I consider the world a friendly or hostile place I quickly and smugly responded 'friendly'--then I was shocked to discover myself currently responding as if 'they're out to get me'. This morning I woke up thinking about a health assessment I agreed to participate in to lower my health insurance costs. What surprised me was HOW I was thinking about it--'as if they were out to get me and knowing they planned to use my personal health information against me'.
Every word that we say has an effect. All spiritual disciplines warn us to be very careful of the words that we speak. Negative words can remain with a child all his life as can positive words. A moment of irritation can cause a parent to say "You never do things right." Many a child has heard a parent or relative say, "You will never make anything of yourself." How damaging that can be, when as an adult he is applying for a job.
When you choose to see the world as a friendly place you set a positive expectation that where ever you go, loving, caring people are ready to help you succeed. You step out into the world knowing even if there are scam artists and evil doers; there are good people out there ready to guide you to positive outcomes. You are the one who makes decisions for your life and the faceless 'they' can only influence your decisions if you let them. You are the driver of how you deal with the world. You decide to deal with the world as if it is hostile or as if it is friendly.
'As If' thinking is a very powerful tool that can work for or against you. Since you are in charge of your thoughts you are the only one who can turn your negative 'As If' thinking into positive 'As If' thinking. When you catch yourself fighting that invisible enemy out to get you--pause--and choose to practice acting as if the world is a friendly place. Start by playing 'what if'--what if everyone in my world was out to help me achieve my greatest desires? What would your world look like? What options and opportunities would open up for you? For example:
If negative, abusive and destructive words have been spoken to us and we have allowed these words to take form and develop in us and believed them, we are living under their control.However, if we choose to cast down those words and throw away those paintings, and choose to let God's Word paint new pictures of love and wholeness, purity, prosperity and ability in us, we will find a new way of living. Here is an example of the power of negative words: Some time ago, I sang in church pretty often. I loved to sing, and still do. And people enjoyed when I sang. But one day, someone that I respected told me that I could not sing. This produced in me an inner image of failure in the area of singing. I stopped singing. And when I was asked to sing, I would make excuses so that I didn't have to sing.
All I could seem to see was what that person told me. One of my pastors saw me backing off. She attempted to pull me back into singing. Also, other people who had a musical background and had heard me sing before begin to paint another image inside of me, with positive inspiring, motivating words. They encouraged me by telling me I could sing. So I began singing again, reluctantly I might add.It took a long time, years in fact to get pass that negative and destructive thought that had been planted as a seed and produced a picture of inability, fear and unproductiveness.On the other hand, her is an example of how good, wholesome and positive words produced after their kind: I continually speak good and positive words to and over my children. Through the application of these kinds of words my son, Sheldon Jr. achieved a four-point grade average.At this writing he is eight years old.I remember one time when he came to me and ask me if he was stupid. I told him that he was not stupid. I told him not to let anyone tell him that. And I told him that he was a smart boy.I feed his mind with the words, "You can do all things through Christ which strengthens you"He believed those words.And through the avenues of positive thinking, based upon God's Word, and help from his mother in his studies, he achieved excellence. And he will get better.
The Book of Proverbs says it like this, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. (Proverbs 18:21, The Holy Bible) To doubt the power of our words on our lives as well as the lives of others who believe in what we say, will work against us, if we do not pay heed to ensuring that what comes out of our mouths is positive, good and right.
He has hidden these destructive seeds in things that we think are okay, when in reality, they are painting some very hurtful and ungodly pictures right in the heart of our imaginations.These destructive thoughts are coming in the form of words and images, through the television programs and music that we watch and listen to which dishonors God and His Word.Think about the amount of violence, murders, foul language, illicit sex, witchcraft, gambling, adultery and drugs that are in the music and the television programs that our young people are watching and listening to constantly.Oh there is nothing wrong with this music, they say.Yes something is wrong with it.It has painted and is painting some very negative and destructive thought patterns in people's minds and they are acting them out big time.Everybody lives out what is in their hearts and minds in abundance, positive or negative.
Words are containers. They contain positive things, or they contain negative things. They contain faith or they contain fear. They contain joy and peace or they contain worry and misery. And if those words ore wrapped in belief, then we will find ourselves having the same things that we say.If you and I desire to be truly successful in life, we must ensure that our words are positive and filled with faith. We must continually say that we are able to do what is in our hearts to do, and that we can accomplish great things because we have a great God.
Some of us are enslaved to negative and degrading words. In order to change our lives, we must change the contents of our words, so that they ring with success, victory and power. Here is how we can begin making that kind of change today:Learn to speak positively. Say what you want to happen in your life, not necessarily what is happening now. For instance, even though things appear to be going against you and your needs may be lacking, say, My God supplies all of my needs. He is my provider and all is well. When God wanted light, He called for it. He spoke it. He did not say what was. He said what He wanted. Adopt His method of operating.Watch your words. Every time you find yourself about to say something negative, stop yourself. Turn it around and say the positive instead. If you feel inadequate and unable to complete a task, instead of saying, "I just can't do it", say, "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me."Read the Book of Proverbs and see what it has to say about your words. It will show you the benefits of speaking good, wholesome and productive words, while at the same time revealing the consequences of speaking negative words.Your words do matter. If you desire to be successful, then speak words of success. Do it continually and persistently and you will find success coming your way.
Every word that we say has an effect. All spiritual disciplines warn us to be very careful of the words that we speak. Negative words can remain with a child all his life as can positive words. A moment of irritation can cause a parent to say "You never do things right." Many a child has heard a parent or relative say, "You will never make anything of yourself." How damaging that can be, when as an adult he is applying for a job.
When you choose to see the world as a friendly place you set a positive expectation that where ever you go, loving, caring people are ready to help you succeed. You step out into the world knowing even if there are scam artists and evil doers; there are good people out there ready to guide you to positive outcomes. You are the one who makes decisions for your life and the faceless 'they' can only influence your decisions if you let them. You are the driver of how you deal with the world. You decide to deal with the world as if it is hostile or as if it is friendly.
'As If' thinking is a very powerful tool that can work for or against you. Since you are in charge of your thoughts you are the only one who can turn your negative 'As If' thinking into positive 'As If' thinking. When you catch yourself fighting that invisible enemy out to get you--pause--and choose to practice acting as if the world is a friendly place. Start by playing 'what if'--what if everyone in my world was out to help me achieve my greatest desires? What would your world look like? What options and opportunities would open up for you? For example:
If negative, abusive and destructive words have been spoken to us and we have allowed these words to take form and develop in us and believed them, we are living under their control.However, if we choose to cast down those words and throw away those paintings, and choose to let God's Word paint new pictures of love and wholeness, purity, prosperity and ability in us, we will find a new way of living. Here is an example of the power of negative words: Some time ago, I sang in church pretty often. I loved to sing, and still do. And people enjoyed when I sang. But one day, someone that I respected told me that I could not sing. This produced in me an inner image of failure in the area of singing. I stopped singing. And when I was asked to sing, I would make excuses so that I didn't have to sing.
All I could seem to see was what that person told me. One of my pastors saw me backing off. She attempted to pull me back into singing. Also, other people who had a musical background and had heard me sing before begin to paint another image inside of me, with positive inspiring, motivating words. They encouraged me by telling me I could sing. So I began singing again, reluctantly I might add.It took a long time, years in fact to get pass that negative and destructive thought that had been planted as a seed and produced a picture of inability, fear and unproductiveness.On the other hand, her is an example of how good, wholesome and positive words produced after their kind: I continually speak good and positive words to and over my children. Through the application of these kinds of words my son, Sheldon Jr. achieved a four-point grade average.At this writing he is eight years old.I remember one time when he came to me and ask me if he was stupid. I told him that he was not stupid. I told him not to let anyone tell him that. And I told him that he was a smart boy.I feed his mind with the words, "You can do all things through Christ which strengthens you"He believed those words.And through the avenues of positive thinking, based upon God's Word, and help from his mother in his studies, he achieved excellence. And he will get better.
The Book of Proverbs says it like this, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. (Proverbs 18:21, The Holy Bible) To doubt the power of our words on our lives as well as the lives of others who believe in what we say, will work against us, if we do not pay heed to ensuring that what comes out of our mouths is positive, good and right.
He has hidden these destructive seeds in things that we think are okay, when in reality, they are painting some very hurtful and ungodly pictures right in the heart of our imaginations.These destructive thoughts are coming in the form of words and images, through the television programs and music that we watch and listen to which dishonors God and His Word.Think about the amount of violence, murders, foul language, illicit sex, witchcraft, gambling, adultery and drugs that are in the music and the television programs that our young people are watching and listening to constantly.Oh there is nothing wrong with this music, they say.Yes something is wrong with it.It has painted and is painting some very negative and destructive thought patterns in people's minds and they are acting them out big time.Everybody lives out what is in their hearts and minds in abundance, positive or negative.
Words are containers. They contain positive things, or they contain negative things. They contain faith or they contain fear. They contain joy and peace or they contain worry and misery. And if those words ore wrapped in belief, then we will find ourselves having the same things that we say.If you and I desire to be truly successful in life, we must ensure that our words are positive and filled with faith. We must continually say that we are able to do what is in our hearts to do, and that we can accomplish great things because we have a great God.
Some of us are enslaved to negative and degrading words. In order to change our lives, we must change the contents of our words, so that they ring with success, victory and power. Here is how we can begin making that kind of change today:Learn to speak positively. Say what you want to happen in your life, not necessarily what is happening now. For instance, even though things appear to be going against you and your needs may be lacking, say, My God supplies all of my needs. He is my provider and all is well. When God wanted light, He called for it. He spoke it. He did not say what was. He said what He wanted. Adopt His method of operating.Watch your words. Every time you find yourself about to say something negative, stop yourself. Turn it around and say the positive instead. If you feel inadequate and unable to complete a task, instead of saying, "I just can't do it", say, "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me."Read the Book of Proverbs and see what it has to say about your words. It will show you the benefits of speaking good, wholesome and productive words, while at the same time revealing the consequences of speaking negative words.Your words do matter. If you desire to be successful, then speak words of success. Do it continually and persistently and you will find success coming your way.
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