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"Don't copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think." The Bible, Romans chapter 12 verse 2 |
Are our attitudes of any real importance from God's point of view? To answer this question with a resounding "Yes!" read the book of Numbers chapters 13 and 14.
Positive thinking is a wonderful tool if it is based upon what God says rather than on what we, or anyone else, says. It is best applied by committing various positive Bible texts to memory. Then, when the appropriate occasion arises, go over the learned words and apply them to that real situation. This method alone can quickly boost your attitude from one of moaning and complaining to one of positive affirmation. It can also, in some strange way, sometimes change the situation itself! This gives us yet another reason to be more hopeful.
Here is an example: some twenty years ago I was suffering with periodic bouts of illness which left me severely incapacitated for almost a year each time. During one of these episodes my feet swelled so much that I could hardly walk. Unable to drive under these conditions, I managed to get a lift to work but I still had to hobble about half a mile to get the lift.
Day after day I did this with no improvement and it seemed to be never-ending. I began to feel more and more sorry for myself until the day finally arrived when I saw no point in even trying anymore. I though that I might as well be dead. That evening, as I made my way home, I was under a very dark cloud and the future looked hopeless.
Turning on the TV at random after dinner, I was very intrigued to see a short film about a lady who had been in a wheelchair for many years. The point of the program was, that the lady had been exercising and practising for years to achieve a long-held goal, to be able to stand up by herself. That was all! To simply be able to stand up unaided!
The camera recorded the celebrations held by the lady and her family as she finally achieved her aim. The film ended as she announced that her next long-term aim was to be able to take a single step.
I was dumbfounded as the lesson slowly sank in; if that lady could do all that I could do, she would be ecstatic with joy! I decided then and there that I would be thankful for each step I could take, no matter how awkward or painful such steps might be.
The next day, walking to get my lift to work, I determinedly said, "Praise the Lord!" for each step I took. It was very, very hard at first, and I felt really silly, but I persisted. It took a week or so, but the result? Never since then have I suffered in that way! In addition, I am much more aware of our total dependence upon God at all times, even for our very next breath or heartbeat, and I try to be positive and thankful about everything. A positive "attitude of gratitude" is a tool that really works.
This reminds me of a story which appears in "The King's Son" a true memoir of Billy Bray, born near Truro, Cornwall, England in 1794. I quote: "'In a friend's house, in Falmouth, he exhorted those present to praise the Lord. Speaking of himself, he said, 'I can't help praising the Lord. As I go along the street I lift up one foot, and it seems to say 'Glory!' and I lift up the other, and it seems to say 'Amen;' and so they keep on like that all the time I am walking.'"
Here is another quote from the same source: "Calling at a friend's house at a time when he had two or three visitors, he received a hearty welcome to remain and dine with them. He soon began to praise the Lord, which was as natural to him as for the birds to sing. He was asked if it was not possible for a man to get into the habit of praising the Lord without knowing what he was saying. He very coolly said that he did not think the Lord was much troubled with that class of persons!"
All this illustrates the fact that positive thinking can be a very good thing to apply in all areas of our lives. There is only one caution to observe: "I can do all things" is wrong, but "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" is right. Positive thinking rightly applied is simply an "attitude of gratitude" to God.
2 Timothy chapter 1 verse 7 tells us, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." We are obviously intended by God to be boldly confident.
We should not be over-confident because we are further told "What can we bring to the Lord to make up for what we've done? Should we bow before God with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and tens of thousands of rivers of olive oil? Would that please the Lord? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for the sins of our souls? Would that make him glad? No, O people, the Lord has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah chapter 6 verses 6 to 8).
From God's point of view then, we have a duty to be positive and cheerful at all times, even in adverse circumstances! Jesus Himself tells us to "leap for joy" when we are poor, hungry, sad, hated, excluded, mocked and cursed because we are identified with Him (Luke chapter 6 verse 23).
In the book of James chapter 1 verse 2, we are told, "whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy." This is a very hard thing even to begin to do, but it certainly helps to try. I am still learning about this.
The Holy Spirit within us will eventually help us produce what God requires from us. "When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians chapter 5 verse 22).
"....the joy of the Lord is your strength!" (Nehemiah chapter 8 verse 10). A positive attitude pays off and our perception of the world changes dramatically. This, of course, is true only if our positive attitudes are based on what God says rather than on our own opinions. In this case, we become stronger and much more capable. Our joy increases and we readily recognise the value of "the little things" in life. Our lives become much more satisfying and fulfilling.
From God's viewpoint, our attitude should be positive and even joyful under all circumstances. This is the ideal but, in reality, we will have frequent lapses. This is because anything we learn from God is always tested, not just once but repeatedly. The main thing is to keep getting up and trying again.
The best way to implement the right attitude is simply to choose to do so. When something "nasty" happens, we always have the choice of controlling how it will affect our thoughts. We can choose to wallow in misery or we can choose to look at things from God's perspective.
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Page updated 11 May 2004