Our thoughts, action, and personalities are based on the positive outlook that is a gift of the Lord and negativity which is the bastion of the devil. The scriptures are full of wisdom on this aspect. According to Proverbs 23:7 “As You Think, So You Are”. The average number of thoughts that humans are believed to experience each day is 70,000 and the energy used by the brain is enough to light a 25-watt bulb. With such a powerful vehicle at our disposal, we can transform our lives. Romans 12:2 says, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” II Corinthians 10:5 says, “Take every thought captive.” When you correctly apply the biblical truth, your thoughts will change your life and you will be able to accomplish more than you imagine. If you learn to take thoughts captive, you can live with purpose in every area of your life because your thoughts determine your destination.
The difference between a positive and negative personality is in the thought life. The people who are always happy, upbeat, and positive have chosen to look on the brighter side of things, even in some of the worse scenarios imaginable. As Christians, we all have God Almighty Himself on our side to help us take on any stormy clouds that may come our way in this life. The negative type of people has chosen to think and dwell on all of the bad things that can happen or go wrong in this life. No matter what good may come their way, they will always think otherwise. As a result of all of this negative and morbid thinking, they are rarely happy.
Frank Outlaw had once remarked “Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch your habits, they become character. Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.” The people who always seem to be happier, and upbeat, are those who choose, with their own free will, to dwell on the positive side of life versus always thinking and dwelling on the darker and negative side of this life. Just as there are two sides to the coin, in the same way we have positive and negative personalities.
The positive and happy disposition springs forth from our belief that our God is dependable, faithful, and trustworthy. He is the positive force that radiates in our lives. Whenever in trouble and faced with calamity, we only have to cry to our Lord and He comes to our rescue. This fact alone changes our perspective of life. We know that there is hope in hopelessness, life instead of death, and joy in place of gloom. The Lord promises in Psalms 50:15 “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”
The child of God always submits and says to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those who walk the broad way, to them the Lord leave them to their will. People either do the will of God gladly in response to God’s great salvation, or they do their own will and go to hell. There is no other choice. Romans 8:5-8 categorises them as those who are self-centric against those who are God-centric.
When we live in Christ, we experience such peace which passes all human understanding. In the midst of storm and turmoil, the child of the Lord can rest in peace. The Love of God is infallible and invincible. In Romans 8:38-39, we have the firm promise “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Dr Ashwin Drummond
Laddertoheaven.co.in