Choose a positive attitude of faith
“Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” (Abraham Lincoln)
How is your outlook on life today? Do you have a glass ‘half-full’ or glass ‘half empty’ attitude?
There is a saying that goes like this: “Your attitude determines your altitude.” Your attitude is a choice that you make, for you decide how you see life.
I love to decorate. A few weeks ago, I walked into my home office; and in the silence of the room I thought, “I’d love to redecorate this space.” Then, I sat down on my dark brown office chair and contemplated, “I wish I could just start over.”
An idea prompted me. Rather than getting a new desk, new chairs, another bookshelf, an alternative lamp and table, on the contrary, I decided to rearrange the office furniture.
Over the next few days, with slow, careful steps, I moved the desk and computer closer to the window. To the far corner of the room, I repositioned the bookshelves. After that, I shifted the chairs in a different layout.
Next, I reorganized my files and pictures. In a new design, I changed around the artwork that hung on the wall. And I moved the area rug to a new spot.
By the time I finished, I stepped back and said to myself: “This looks good!” My words strung together, for I had never seen the accessories and furniture from this new perspective.
As a result, a new world seemed to open up for me.
In the same way that I rearranged my office furniture, sometimes we need to rearrange our thoughts. Could it be that your perspective is holding you back from living the life of your dreams?
A while back, I read about a building contractor who was constructing a levee along a riverbank. Then, a great storm and flood came which destroyed all the work that had been done and buried all his earth-moving machinery. Upon observing the damage after the water receded, the contractor found his workers standing around gloomy and hopeless. So he asked them, “Why are you all so glum?”
The workers all replied, “Don’t you see what happened? Our machines are all covered with mud!” Surprised, the contractor asked, “What mud? I don’t see any mud.”
Astonished, the workers responded, “Look around… there is a sea of mud everywhere! How can you not see it?”
“Because,” said the contactor, “I am looking up at a beautiful clear, blue sky and there is no mud there. There’s only sunshine. And soon the mud will be all dried up, we’ll move our machinery and we will be able to start anew.”
At times, like the contractor, we just need a new perspective. So choose a positive attitude of faith.
As opposed to allowing yourself to think that it’s too late to accomplish your hopes and dreams. Switch your perspective, choose a positive attitude of faith and don’t give up. Declare, “I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).
Instead of permitting doubts or disappointments to cast a shadow over your future, switch your perspective. Choose a positive attitude of faith and dare to go forth uttering, “For God has not given me the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7).
Rather than constantly thinking how you were wronged, switch your perspective and choose a positive attitude of faith. Take the high road and say, “God will lead me to triumph.” (2 Corinthians 2:4).
In place of being bitter over missed opportunities, switch your perspective and choose a positive attitude of faith. Open your mind to new prospects and state, “God will restore the years that the locust has eaten.” (Joel 2:25).
You deserve the best of everything. Thus, do not dwell on the pain, mistakes or grievances of the past. Turn any fears into positive thoughts. What happened before is over and done. So choose not to live bitter, negative, or dissatisfied. You may fall, but get back up! You might not be where you want to be right now. Yet, this is a new day. So be grateful that you can dream new dreams, set new goals, and endeavor to achieve them. For as you persist, each day you are moving closer toward victory.
Believe situations will be better, and they will be better. Think success, and you’ll have success.
Talk as though you’re blessed, and you will be blessed. Switch your perspective and look ahead with expectation to the love, peace, and the many joys and miracles that are ahead for you.
In the Old Testament, despite his and his wife’s advanced age, Abraham trusted God for the child he was promised. In those times, the main purpose of a woman’s life was to get married and bear children, for children were the hope of the future. But, Abraham’s wife was beyond childbearing years. Although the situation seemed to be improbable, God is well able do the impossible. They changed their perspective and stretched their faith. And as promised, Abraham’s wife gave birth to a miracle son, whom they named Isaac (Genesis 18:14).
God is greater than any problem you might face. Remember, God has guided you this far, and He will continue to guide you. He has a perfect divine purpose and destiny set up for you, and He will help you every step of the way into the fulfillment of that plan.
“The Lord will guide you continually …” (Isaiah 58:11)
Today, make up your mind to be happy. Tomorrow, do it again. The next day, be happy again. And the next… and the next.
Trust that God will move favorably in your behalf. Then, He will do the rest.