Optimistic Journey http://optimisticjourney.com Grab a dose of optimism, a winner mindset, and a handful of life lessons as you charge forth on your journey of life Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:19:56 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 10 Ways to Have a Complete Joy-filled Day! http://optimisticjourney.com/2012/02/02/10-ways-to-have-a-complete-joy-filled-day/ http://optimisticjourney.com/2012/02/02/10-ways-to-have-a-complete-joy-filled-day/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:22:05 +0000 Jarrod Clark http://optimisticjourney.com/?p=2939

God wants you to live an abundant life.  He doesn’t want you to just get by. He doesn’t want you to live an ordinary, average or mediocre life. No, He wants your days to be full of joy, enthusiasm and excitement. Here are 10 practical tips to get you on the road to a life full of a complete joy.

1. Devotion – Start your day off on the right foot. Have your prayer time with God. Study and meditate on His word. It’s great momentum for the rest of the day. And it can suit you better than any coffee, instant tea or hot chocolate ever can. It’s a sure way to build your day on a solid foundation.

2. Feed yourself – Studies show that you’re not you, when you’re hungry. You’re cranky, moody, irritable and on edge. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It gives you a boost of great energy. Having a healthy breakfast is a great way to start your day.

3. Smile – One of the greatest gifts God has given you is your smile. Nehemiah 8:10 says that the joy of the Lord is your strength. Wear your joy and wear it well. Studies show that when you smile, you’re subconsciously communicating to yourself that everything is going to be okay. Make a decision to smile, it’s a win-win. Not only are you benefiting yourself but you’re bringing joy to another person’s day by being a light in a dark world.

4. Build up another – A great way to bring joy to a sad time is to build up another person. Encourage someone today. Tell someone they are the apple of God’s eyes. Let them know they are blessed and highly favored of the Lord. Remind them that they are God’s most prized possession.

5. Exercise – One of the greatest stress relievers is physical fitness. It doesn’t take much. Some experts say just a few minutes of physical exercise per day is a great way to relieve stress. In doing so, your body is releasing natural chemicals that give you a sense of complete joy and well being.

6. Do a Good Deed – Much of what Jesus did while he was here on earth was simply do good deeds. In Acts 10:38, Peter makes reference to John’s preaching about how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good… One of the greatest ways to bring joy to your day is by simply “doing good.” Think of one good deed you can do for a friend and do it. You’ll be surprised at how much joy there is in putting others ahead of yourself. Remember, you reap what you sow. God will turn around and bless you in return.

7. Think good thoughts – When you go around focused on the negative, you’re robbing yourself of joy, peace, and wholeness. God’s Word says to think about things that are virtuous, noble and excellent. Think on things that are pure, things that are of a good report and worthy of praise. When you meditate and think on good things the Lord will satisfy your day with increase, favor, joy and peace.

8. Express gratitude – I always like to say, “when you complain, you remain. When you express gratitude, you change your altitude.” Count your blessings. Express your gratitude and look for the Lord to open up doors of opportunities and enlarge your territory!

9. Get plenty of rest – This is a hard one for the ‘go getters’ to swallow, but the truth is we must get plenty of rest. When you get the proper amount of rest you’ll wake up refreshed, energized and ready to face your brand new day with excitement. It also impacts your attitude.

10. Rinse and repeat – Be consistent. Make it a lifestyle. Don’t just do it once. No, results come with consistency. Shake off the burdens of the day. Leave your cares with the Lord. Wake up the next day, wipe the slate clean and do it all over again. When you do so you’ll find increasing joy in every area of your life as you charge forth on your journey!

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]]> http://optimisticjourney.com/2012/02/02/10-ways-to-have-a-complete-joy-filled-day/feed/ 2 Get the Inside Information! http://optimisticjourney.com/2012/02/01/get-the-inside-information/ http://optimisticjourney.com/2012/02/01/get-the-inside-information/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:06:02 +0000 Jarrod Clark http://optimisticjourney.com/?p=2927

You can travel the world, live long years and experience all there is to experience and still not know all there is to know. You can go to school for years and years, get a Doctorate and still be missing some inside information.

Life is a continuing learning process. You can never know all there is to know. Paul confirms in 1st Corinthians that we now only know in part. In other words, we don’t know all there is to know. We’re missing some key hidden information.

Think about it: The world’s smartest scientist is missing some key information. The world’s smartest Jeopardy contestant only knows part of the whole. You can search far and wide, find the most sought after surgeon, and discover that he doesn’t know all there is to know. But there is One who has all the inside information! And He is all knowing, all powerful and all mighty!

And the good news is you’re connected to this One who is our great God, the True Vine. He can show you great and mighty things that you do not know. When you call on the Lord, He’ll show you hidden things that are far beyond the world’s wisdom.

I love how Jeremiah 33:3 puts it. The Lord says, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

I think of people who have street smarts. They know certain “code things” that the books don’t teach you. They know certain survival traits, the “ins and outs” and the “low-down”, (if you will) that can only be learned on the streets.

On the contrary, the books teach you educational, success driven and need-to-know tactics that the streets don’t teach you.

In the same way, God’s wisdom is not the world’s wisdom. In fact, His wisdom is on a higher plane. In Isaiah 55:9, the Lord declares “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

God’s Word is packed with wisdom and knowledge that can only be learned when you have access to Him. He has some key hidden information that can only be gathered when you call to Him as the scripture declares. But here is more good news, you do have access to Him! All you have to do is call upon the Giver of all life!

Make yourself readily available to the Lord today. Call upon our God, the creator of the universe, for His wisdom and guidance. When you do so, He will show you great, mighty, fenced in and hidden things which you do not know or understand. His Word will then become a light to your pathway and give you peace as you charge forth on your journey of life!

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]]> http://optimisticjourney.com/2012/02/01/get-the-inside-information/feed/ 0 If You Want it Bad Enough… (Accept no Excuses) http://optimisticjourney.com/2012/01/31/want-it-bad-enough/ http://optimisticjourney.com/2012/01/31/want-it-bad-enough/#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:30:12 +0000 Jarrod Clark http://optimisticjourney.com/?p=2920

“If you really want to do something, you will find a way. If you don’t, you will find an excuse.” ―E. James Rohn

Every since we were kids we’ve had amazing dreams. For some, being the world’s greatest sports star or big time musician was the ultimate dream. Others wanted to be a doctor or a lawyer. For someone else, a firefighter or a teacher was enough to make their future a success.

Somewhere along the line, we stopped dreaming and started making excuses. We’ve allowed discouragement to set in and deter our focus. At some point, many have listened to the naysayers say things like, “that’s impossible” or “I tried that and it doesn’t work.” They would even go as far as to say, “your chances are slim to none compared to the other contenders.” And what’s worse is we’ve made excuses for ourselves.

But if you want it bad enough, you’ll accept no excuses. You’ll stop at nothing. God has given you all the tools to do any and everything you want to do. Tap into those tools. Take your God-given talent and put it to good use for you.

What dreams and visions have you forfeited? Maybe you wanted to be a big time lawyer, but you allowed room for the voices of defeat. Maybe all your life you wanted to lose weight and get in shape, but you made excuses to not go to the gym or eat right. Maybe your goal was to get back in school, but you’ve looked at all the reasons why you shouldn’t.

In the interim, it’s easy to think that you don’t have what it takes. It’s easy to get a chip on your shoulder and think that you’re at a loss. But let me encourage you today, excuses are lies in disguise.

Don’t allow deception to keep you from your God-given destiny. Don’t buy into the excuses. Don’t settle for defeat. If you want it bad enough, you’ll defy all odds.

When a naysayer comes and speaks against your dreams, simply say “excuse me, I don’t buy into excuses.” If a critic or an enemy comes to plant seeds of doubt, say “I’m a scouter not a doubter. I’m on a mission to fulfill my God-given destiny!”

Friend, if you want it bad enough you’ll make happen. Accept no excuses. Don’t settle for mediocrity. You’re extremely gifted and you were meant to do great things in the Kingdom of God. Don’t buy into excuses. No, make it happen regardless. When you do so, God will turn your broken dreams into fulfilled visions as you charge forth on your journey of life!

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]]> http://optimisticjourney.com/2012/01/31/want-it-bad-enough/feed/ 0 See Yourself Through God’s Eyes http://optimisticjourney.com/2012/01/30/see-yourself-through-gods-eyes/ http://optimisticjourney.com/2012/01/30/see-yourself-through-gods-eyes/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:21:14 +0000 Jarrod Clark http://optimisticjourney.com/?p=2911

In the grand scheme of things, God sees you as whole, equipped and complete. To Him, you are a royal masterpiece of honor, greatness and power. His Word says you’re an overcomer, more than a conqueror and able to accomplish all things.

But too often, we don’t see ourselves through the eyes of God. We see the setbacks and failures. We see the impossibilities but God sees the possibilities. We see our incompetence but God sees our potential. We see our lack thereof and the Lord sees provision. We see no way out, but God has a way of escape.

If you’ll start seeing yourself through the eyes of God, you’ll realize you can accomplish more than you think. Get a vision for who you are in the grand microscope. Focus on the big picture

Sure you may have failed in the past. You may have made some bad decisions. In the natural, you may have some handicaps, but these are the ingredients that make up your success. Some of the most successful people have had the greatest failures.

Realize that you have an advantage. Before the foundation of the world, God ordained that you would do great things. He had a plan for you before you were formed in the womb.

Know that you are the apple of God’s eye. You are His most prized possession.  He sees you from the big picture.

I think about how when we travel in an airplane, everything looks magnificent and beautiful when looking down from above. Even the most run-down looking cities with graffiti, torn down buildings and pollution, have a splendid picture of perfection looking down from thirty-thousand feet in the air. From that high up, you can’t see such intricate details.

In the same way, God sees your big picture. He’s looking at you as a whole. He’s not looking at the graffiti of your past. He’s not looking at how your pathways are cluttered with litter. He’s not thinking that you can’t be used because you need renovations. No, looking down from above, He sees your magnificence, splendor and beauty.

Focus on the possibilities. Look at the grand picture. Your setbacks aren’t keeping you from going forward, no it’s your potential that’s giving you a chance.

God has planted seeds of greatness on the inside. Your story ends in victory. Look at the big picture. Your final chapter concludes that you have everything it takes to do great things in life. See yourself through God’s eyes. When you do so, He’ll give you unspeakable confidence in your abilities through Him as you charge forth on your journey of life!

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]]> http://optimisticjourney.com/2012/01/30/see-yourself-through-gods-eyes/feed/ 0 Too Blessed to be Stressed http://optimisticjourney.com/2012/01/29/too-blessed-to-be-stressed/ http://optimisticjourney.com/2012/01/29/too-blessed-to-be-stressed/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:46:41 +0000 Jarrod Clark http://optimisticjourney.com/?p=2907

Day in and day out, we all face unexpected opposition. The little things stress us out. If things don’t go our way, it stresses us out. If someone says the wrong thing to us, that gets the best of us. If someone cuts us off in traffic, we’re on edge. And it’s easy to look at the curses instead of the blessings. It’s easy to focus on what went wrong instead of what went right.

Maybe you didn’t get the grade that you thought you should’ve got on that school project. Maybe that business presentation didn’t go the way you expected it to go. Someone may have done all the wrong things to push your buttons. You might have given it all you had, you held up your end of the bargain, but that relationship still didn’t work out.

In the interim, it’s easy to get bitter. You may be tempted to get sour on life, but know that all these things are really blessings in disguise. God sends setbacks, disappointments, and challenges to make you stronger.

Don’t let the bitter waters of life steal your joy, enthusiasm and peace. Don’t stress over the bad hand that you’ve been dealt. No, you’re too blessed to be stressed. You’re not at a loss. No, shake off the defeat and the stress.

I think of an athlete. When they’re in the game they understand this one principal. They realize that the best defense is a good offense. In other words, they know that they’re success rests on destroying the enemy’s ability to attack.

When the unexpected happens in the course of your day, the best you can do is make a choice to not let it affect you. Just like the athlete, put up a good offense. Realize that you’re to blessed to be stressed.

If an enemy comes in an attempt to destroy your God-given destiny, put on your best offense. Stand strong against the attack. If someone cuts in front of you in traffic, put up a good offense. Don’t let it affect you. If you get a bad break, look at it as a blessing in disguise.

Remember, God is in the blessing business. Everything that happens, the good, the bad and the ugly, work out for your greater good. God can take those upsets, losses and bad breaks and turn the tides in your favor. He can turn those disappointments into divine appointments.

Keep pressing forward, you’re too blessed to be stressed. God has crowned you with blessings, honor, and favor. All the setbacks that you faced will be the setup for your season of celebration.

If a door closes in your face, don’t stress, that means you’re growing closer to your God-given destiny. If that relationship didn’t workout, don’t stress, that simply means you’re closer to your divine connections. If you’ve failed along the way, don’t stress, it’s only a matter of time before you come into success.

Get your joy back. Get your enthusiasm back. Dig your heels in and stand strong. Know that for every bad break there is a better break up ahead. Know that God is working behind the scenes, and in due time He will shower down abundant blessings for you as you charge forth on your journey of life!

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]]> http://optimisticjourney.com/2012/01/29/too-blessed-to-be-stressed/feed/ 0 God Abides With Us http://optimisticjourney.com/2012/01/26/god-abides-with-us/ http://optimisticjourney.com/2012/01/26/god-abides-with-us/#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:24:01 +0000 Jarrod Clark http://optimisticjourney.com/?p=2901

“No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.” – 1 John 4:12

God has sown seeds of greatness in you. He has given you everything you need to show Himself strong in and through you.

He’s not off in a far distant place looking down from the heavens. He’s not in a church house where you have to attend just to experience His presence. No, He lives among us.

We can’t see Him, He’s intangible, we can’t feel him. But if we love and display good fruit, He abides with us and through us.

I’ve heard it said that for someone, you’re the only Jesus they’ll ever see. In other words, when you display the Fruit of the Spirit, you are displaying the essence of who He is.

I love how today’s scripture says, “no one has ever seen God at anytime. But if we love each other, God abides in us…”

Here’s another way to put it. When you’re joyful and patient, God abides. When you’re forgiving, loving, and kind, God abides. When you exercise temperance and self-control, God abides. When you’re a light in a dark world, God abides. When you exercise these character traits, you are showing others the full expression of who God is.

If you’re going to see the hand of God at work through you, you’re going to have to bear good fruit. Serve one another, tap into God’s ingredients. Kindly let another go ahead of you in traffic. Hold the door open for a stranger. Smile at your next door neighbor in passing. Be friendly to the clerk waiting on you in the checkout line at the supermarket.

It’s easy to think, I’m nothing special, God can’t use me. No, that’s far from the truth. You are extraordinary. You are a significant piece of the puzzle. You’re a vessel of power chosen, equipped and appointed to be a Christ ambassador.

God shows Himself strong in us when we bear good fruit. When we show love, mercy, forgiveness and kindness, He’s ever present. When we’re joyful, of good cheer, and we display a positive attitude, despite the present circumstances, that is when God lives among us.

The good news is not only does our gracious Father get the glory out of it, but you benefit as well. How, you may ask? One of the greatest things you can do to bring joy to your day is to give, serve and love one another.

Make a decision to be salt and light in your day to day interactions. When you do so you’ll experience God’s presence more than ever before as you charge forth on your journey of life!

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]]> http://optimisticjourney.com/2012/01/26/god-abides-with-us/feed/ 0 Stuck in a Rut? How to Get Out http://optimisticjourney.com/2012/01/25/stuck-in-a-rut/ http://optimisticjourney.com/2012/01/25/stuck-in-a-rut/#comments Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:49:40 +0000 Jarrod Clark http://optimisticjourney.com/?p=2894

By nature, we all desire to progress forward in life. We all have hopes, visions and dreams. But for many, its the same day in and day out, year in and year out.

For some, traditions are holding them back. Others fall prey to the barely-get-by, lackadaisical mindset. But know today that we serve a God who makes all things new. He doesn’t want you to be stuck in a rut. He wants to bring you into increase, promotion, and a higher dimension.

If you’re going to come into your God-given destiny, you’re going to have to leave the old mindset behind. Don’t fall prey to that toxic mindset that says, “I’ll never achieve that dream” or “I don’t have the talents to be an achiever.”

Don’t say what you can’t do, say what you can do. Don’t be stagnant, make positive declarations that will catapult you into your destiny.

I’ve heard it said that you believe more of what you say, than what anybody else says about you. If you’re going around saying, I’ll never break this bad addiction… I never get the right breaks…  I never come into the right relationships, then that’s all you’ll ever acquire. Like the Children of Israel in the Bible, you’ll be stuck in a rut. You’ll be circling that same mountain over and over again, day in and day out.

In order to progress, you’re going to have to break bad traditions. If you’re going to stretch forth to the next level, you’ll have to change some things.

Instead of saying, I don’t have the talents, say I have everything I need to do anything I could imagine. Instead of saying, this relationship will never work, your declaration should be, I serve a God who mends broken relationships.

I’ve heard a great saying, “When you complain, you remain.” If you’re going to progress in life, you must first believe that a change is yet at hand. You’ll have to get rid of the limiting, defeating mindset and believe that you can achieve those dreams. You can get that promotion. You can break through into a higher dimension.

I always say, “change your I can’ts to the I cans.” In other words, let your declaration be, I can recover from a bad break. I can achieve the unachievable. I can break down the walls stagnation. When you do so, you’ll discover that with God, you’ll come into bigger opportunities, better relationships, and fulfilled dreams as you charge forth on your journey of life!

If you liked this article, be sure to share it on Twitter and Facebook. If reading this article via email, forward it to a friend. Also, click here to visit the site. Leave a comment and participate in the online community. Also be sure to follow Optimistic Journey on Facebook and Twitter:

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]]> http://optimisticjourney.com/2012/01/25/stuck-in-a-rut/feed/ 0 Find the Lessons in Your Failures http://optimisticjourney.com/2012/01/24/lessons-in-your-failures/ http://optimisticjourney.com/2012/01/24/lessons-in-your-failures/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:24:35 +0000 Jarrod Clark http://optimisticjourney.com/?p=2888

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:13

Thomas Edison was one of the most brilliant inventors of all time. He was an inventor of many things that changed the world. The light-bulb was one which has a significant impact on us today.

I read where it was reported that Edison had nearly nine-thousand failed attempts at inventing the light-bulb. I would imagine that he got discouraged along the way. He probably felt like throwing in the towel.

But yet he had the courage, drive and determination to bring his invention to completion. He gave up at no end.

One day, he finally came into the success of completing the light-bulb. What I find interesting is afterwards, he was asked how it felt to have had nine-thousand failed attempts at creating the light bulb? He responded, “it felt great, for every time, I learned a way NOT to create the light bulb.”

I’m sure Edison lost hope along the way. I’m sure he had critics and naysayers saying, “Edison, it’s no use.” “Why don’t you just give it up? All the odds are in your favor.”

But Edison understood this principle. He understood that with great successes comes many failures. He knew that there were lessons in his failures.

What are those many failed attempts that you’ve thrown along the wayside? What about those unfulfilled dreams and visions that you’ve let go?

Let me encourage you today- there are endless possibilities. Just like Edison, you can come into your season of success if you don’t lose heart. You’ll reap your harvest of blessings if you don’t give up.

God has given you everything you need to accomplish anything you want. Just like Edison, you can learn from your failures. Let them serve as lessons to catapult you to your destiny.

Let your declaration be, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” No matter what your lot, no matter how impossible it might seem, know that with Christ there is a way.

I heard a wise man once say, “Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done.” Maybe you could be one of the ones to prove a naysayer wrong. Maybe you could be one of the ones to do what the masses said can’t be done. Who knows, like Edison, if you’re persistent and you don’t lose heart, you can prosper in ways that will change the world for centuries to come. Find the lessons in your failures.

Rely on the seeds of greatness that are on the inside. God has given you all the tools you need to succeed. He’s given you determination, drive, motivation, perseverance, persistence and favor. When you tap into these God-given ingredients, he’ll cause you to prosper in more ways than you know as you charge forth on your journey of life!

If you liked this article, be sure to share it on Twitter and Facebook. If reading this article via email, forward it to a friend. Also, click here to visit the site. Leave a comment and participate in the online community. Also be sure to follow Optimistic Journey on Facebook and Twitter:

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]]> http://optimisticjourney.com/2012/01/24/lessons-in-your-failures/feed/ 0 Press Through in Faith http://optimisticjourney.com/2012/01/23/press-through-in-faith/ http://optimisticjourney.com/2012/01/23/press-through-in-faith/#comments Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:06:06 +0000 Jarrod Clark http://optimisticjourney.com/?p=2880

“She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe.” – Mark 5:27

There was a woman in the Bible who had an issue of blood. The scripture says she suffered for many years under the hand of physicians. She spent all her money, and she still didn’t get any better. In fact, she got worse.

One day she heard Jesus was passing through the crowd and she came up behind him. She touched his garment. She knew that in doing so, she would be made whole. The scripture goes on to say, that when she touched his robe, she felt her body being immediately healed of her affliction.

This woman understood a principle. She understood that Jesus responds when we press through in faith. Here’s the thing, she was just one person in the crowd who was pressing Jesus. I’d imagine her complaint was, “I’m in the midst of all these people.” “I’ll never get a chance.” “What are the chances that I could be one of the ones to press through and be made whole.”  But she defied all odds and pressed through in faith.

After twelve long years suffering this affliction, I’d imagine she was without hope. She spent her last dime. She was probably ready to throw in the towel. But she pressed.

Just like this woman, our gracious Father responds when we press Him in times of trouble. Maybe there’s an area in your life that needs to be made whole. Maybe you’ve struggled, toiled and suffered, yet still to no avail. Like this woman, maybe you’ve ran out of options. You’ve done all you can, no one has the answers. No magic pill will suffice. No counselor can give you the help you need. Let me encourage you today, there is a better way. You can still press through.

Notice the scripture didn’t say Jesus came to her. Notice it didn’t say, she was hoping Christ would notice her and come. No, she was bold and courageous. She had a tremendous faith. She pressed through the crowd and was made whole.

When it seems life doesn’t have the answers, press through. When you’ve ran out of options, press through. When it seems there’s no hope, press through.

Jesus responds when we’re bold and courageous. He has a heart for those who are determined, and faithful to press through the crowds of life. Make a choice to press Jesus through the difficult times. When you do so, our Father will respond to your faith. In effect, you’ll experience wholeness in every area of your life!

If you liked this article, be sure to share it on Twitter and Facebook. If reading this article via email, forward it to a friend. Also, click here to visit the site. Leave a comment and participate in the online community. Also be sure to follow Optimistic Journey on Facebook and Twitter:

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]]> http://optimisticjourney.com/2012/01/23/press-through-in-faith/feed/ 0 Choose Your Thoughts http://optimisticjourney.com/2012/01/22/choose-your-thoughts/ http://optimisticjourney.com/2012/01/22/choose-your-thoughts/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:26:23 +0000 Jarrod Clark http://optimisticjourney.com/?p=2871

“…For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” – Matthew 12:34

God has given us the wonderful gift of choice. And one of those choices is the ability to choose our thoughts. Day in and day out, we’re bombarded with thousands of thoughts. Some are good and some are bad.

I’ve heard it said that the average person has somewhere around 7,500 bad thoughts a day. This may be an alarming statistic to swallow but the truth is, you can change those negative, defeating thoughts.

Here’s the key, you don’t have to entertain every thought that enters your mind. Whatever you meditate on will take root, multiply, and grow.

If you’re unsuccessful at something, don’t meditate on what went wrong, dwell on what went right. if a friend betrayed you, don’t think that you’re “less than” or “not good enough.” No, your thought should be, “It’s their loss.” “That person lost a good thing.”

Maybe you had a bad day, and you’re tempted to get in despair. Your declaration should be, “as long as I’m among the living, I have hope.”

You see, the enemy wants to get you down in the dumps. The scripture says that the thief came to steal, kill, and destroy. How does he do that? Partly by appealing to your thoughts. The enemy wants to plant negative seeds of doubt, discouragement and defeat into your mind.

But you don’t have to be a slave to your negative thoughts. No, there’s a better way. God wants you to have an abundant life. A life full of peace, wholeness and joy.

I love how Philippians 4:8 puts it. It says, “Finally brothers and sisters, 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 things.

In other words, if it’s not building you up, don’t think about it. If it doesn’t bring a smile to your face, don’t think about it. If someone says something about you and it’s not true, don’t think about it. If it’s defeating you, don’t think about it.

If it’s causing you stress and bad health, don’t think about it. If the critics and naysayers come at you with a false negative report, don’t think about it. If an enemy comes at you with a bad accusation, don’t think about it. Notice, none of these things are noble, admirable, excellent or worthy of praise.

Next time you’re tempted to complain, remember the Nation of Israel and how they were stuck in the wilderness for forty years. Day in and day out, they circled around that same mountain. They were stuck in a rut. They didn’t progress forward, partly because they complained.

Remember, every complaint starts with a thought. Every thought is a seed. If you plant bad seeds, you’ll reap a bad harvest. Make a choice today. Choose to think positive thoughts of life, abundance, and wholeness as you charge forth on your journey of life!

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