Positive Thinking: How to Use the Word of God to Fight Despair
How do you stay positive when it seems like life is falling apart all around you- your husband lost his job and your bank account is empty, your mother has a terminal disease and your car’s got a flat tire. The most important thing you can do when life is beating you up is to protect your thought life. Proverbs 4:23 tells us to guard our mind with all diligence because out of it flow the forces of life.
What are some practical things you can do to keep your thoughts positive? When you are hit with upsetting news, the first thing to do is to ask God for His wisdom. Find out if there is anything you should be doing besides trusting Him.
Replace negative thoughts with the Word. Find Bible verses that pertain to your situation and write them on 3×5 index cards. Carry these cards with you and read them out loud every time you catch yourself worrying. Speak out the verses as they pertain to your life. For example, use Philippians 4:19 and say “God supplies money for me to pay my heating bill.” Speak it over and over until it becomes real to you.
Refuse to say anything that is contrary to what you want in your life. Proverbs 18:21 says “Life and death are in the power of the tongue.” Use this power to your advantage by only speaking positive, faith-filled words.
Another powerful way to get the Word working in your life is to visualize it. Find a comfortable place where you will not be disturbed and form pictures in your mind of what you want. Make it as real to yourself as you possibly can.
A faith filled outlook is essential if you don’t want to succumb to the pressures of life. Staying positive during troubled times is challenging but not impossible. Keep your eyes on God and His Word and you will rise above the circumstances instead of being overwhelmed by them.
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A positive outlook is so important for your success in life. This is a lofty challenge when you are hit with a distressing situation. Previously, I talked about how to fight depression by using the Word of God but there are also natural things you can do to help you keep things in perspective. As you are standing in faith, waiting for your breakthrough try doing some of these things:
- Listen to upbeat positive music that makes you feel happy.
- Watch a funny show. Laughter is a great stress reliever.
- Watch a movie that inspires you. Watching a good movie can make you forget your problems and give you a fresh perspective on your life.
- Surround yourself with beauty. This may mean cleaning your house and bringing in fresh flowers, going for a walk in the park or going on vacation.
- Look through a photo album or watch a video that reminds you of happy times.
- Spend time with happy, positive people. It’s okay to let them know you want to be around them because you know they will make you feel better
- Read an interesting book that inspires you.
- Do something that you enjoy-play a game on your computer, go out to eat with a friend or start a new hobby.
- Enjoy some dark chocolate. Not only is it delicious and entertaining but it also contains natural neurotransmitters which cause feelings of well-being.
The best thing you can do while facing problems is to have a positive attitude.
Doing things, you enjoy is an effective way to keep your mind off your trouble. So if you have spent time praying and meditating in the Word and you are still being bombarded by negative thoughts, try forgetting about your problems by having some fun.