Whatsoever things are lovely…think on these things. ~~Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
A sure fire way to change your mood and perception is to change your thinking. When we think about what we’re thinking about, we have the option to make the necessary change that will benefit us. Let’s face it, no one desires to be around negative people, except negative people, and positive people seek out those who are positive.
I can remember a particular trial in my life that had my mind focused on the negative. I replayed the incident in my mind over and over again, I had trouble sleeping, and I closed myself off from others (especially the positive people in my life). I chose to wallow in my circumstances.
Then, one day I looked in the mirror and saw the expression on my face. I was wearing a frown, my shoulders were slumped over and I looked tired. I also realized that I had not read the positive affirmations that were posted on the mirror in the bathroom or on the closet doors in my bedroom. I couldn’t remember the last time I even looked at them. The positive had faded into the background while the loud and fierce wind of negativity took center stage in my life.
That morning I made a change. I knew I had to do something about what I was seeing in the mirror. In the past, I would testify about how my thinking in a bad situation or under pressure shaped the outcome. While the storms of life were raging, I knew to keep my mind on the “lovely” things. I would remind myself of how God delivered me in the past, or how God used those not-so-good situations to stretch me and/or bless me. I would take the time to look around and notice the wonder of God and be reassured in my spirit that God was working things out and I didn’t need to fret.
So, if you find that you’re in a not-so-great position and your mindset is being affected by it, take the next few minutes to reflect on the “lovely” things of God in your life. Also, never forget that all things (good or bad) are working together for good because there are no mistakes in God. He knows what He’s doing.
~~FLOWing
The FLOW 