A new life can come from a new way of looking at your circumstances

What thoughts are you thinking right now? It’s been said that the average person has about fifty to seventy thousand thoughts a day. The mind, like a magnet, pulls towards us our prominent thoughts. Just as a steel magnet will draw out only the things which it has a resemblance for, we constantly draw to us our thoughts and the situations and people that respond to our beliefs and principles. Our leading beliefs can activate forces to produce conditions that correspond to our basic viewpoints and, thus, create our future. For our thoughts play a major role in our lives. The Bible teaches us in Proverbs 23:7, as we think, so shall we turn out to be.

Late last summer, my children and I went to a birthday party. It was for a 10-year-old girl and we enjoyed a lovely afternoon. The child’s parents had every detail covered. To amuse the children, there was a waterslide, unique craft projects, and even a zip line. For lunch, we had a cook-out. And for dessert, the children made s’mores. Then, we enjoyed homemade birthday cake and vanilla ice-cream. After the party, my children and I stayed to help clean up. Sometime later, I overheard the birthday girl say to her mother, “Mom, you forgot to serve the chocolate syrup.” Rather than focusing on the 100 great things that happened that day. The little girl mulled over the one thing that wasn’t quite right.

In the same way, let’s focus on the 90 percent of things that are right in our lives instead of thinking continually about the one or two challenges or situations that may need improvement. There is nothing as powerful as a changed mind. A new life can come from a new way of looking at your circumstances. God plans to give you the future you hope for. So release past hurts, regrets or guilt and get your mind going in the right direction. Don’t think yourself out of your miracle. God’s mercy is fresh and new every morning. So stop sabotaging your success by thinking destructive, wrong thoughts. What you focus on, you will feel whether it is true or not. So don’t give attention to negative stories in your mind. Just because you have a thought or a feeling, it doesn’t mean it is a fact. Maybe it’s the complete opposite of what you are thinking is true. The more you think and talk about a difficulty; the bigger the issue can become. Yet, if you change your mind-set, the condition you are facing must change.

Breaking through negative inner self-talk can be like exercising. At first, it may be difficult. But if you start small, you will gradually become stronger. And before long, it will become effortless. By persistently thinking optimistically, encouraging, motivating thoughts, backed by the steady exercise of unwavering faith and confidence, you can remake yourself and your situations.

A while back, I read about a family who completely overturned their situation by reversing their thought process and attitude. They then gained a new beginning. They had been living in a rundown, discouraging atmosphere for so long, they were convinced that success was for others, but not for them. They believed so thoroughly that they were fated to be destitute, that their attitude, their work, home, and entire environment were pictures of disorder. And by holding a poor opinion of their abilities, they actually thought themselves into melancholy and weakness.

Then, one day, the mother read a book that suggested shortage and lack was largely created in the mind, and that success and creativity grow and flow in a positive, upbeat atmosphere. At once, she started to reverse her thinking habit, pondering only on the things she wanted to create in her and her family’s life. Gradually, the mother replaced all discouraging, hopeless, depressing thoughts with their opposites. In order to move forward into the new blessings God had for their future, she was willing to think her way, with faith and hope, through problems when they arose. The mother stopped complaining and began to thank God daily for what they had, and she assumed a sunny, joyful disposition, and contemplated all that was sweet and wholesome. She looked and acted as if life were worth living.

Soon, her husband and children caught the contagion of the mother’s cheerfulness and well-being. In a short time, peace replaced chaos, optimism took the place of pessimism, and hope substituted despair. With determination, they changed their adverse behavior; there were no more negative remarks or unhealthy habits.

Each night, they prayed together as a family and asked God for help and direction. They were discriminate about what they read, the music they listened to, and what they watched on television. For negativity can jump out and grab our attention so completely that it can mentally affect us for the worst, if we are not tremendously cautious.

Next, they repaired their home, renovated within and out, as the family forever turned their backs on the dark picture of gloom and doom. This transformation was so great that it gave this family new hope and courage. The father’s efficiency was increased, and soon he was promoted by his company into upper management. And after a year of the creative, inspiring surroundings, the children were excelling in school.

Countless people have thought themselves away from a life of despair by getting a glimpse of this great principle… “that which we persistently hold in the thought and vigorously strive toward, is what we tend to realize in life.”

You might have challenges coming your way, but God is saying to you today: “Only think on the things you want.” Look at the positive side of every situation.

Have faith in your abilities and see yourself as a winner. Do not fill your mind with any doubts and fears. Keep your trust in God and know that He will not fail you. It’s a new day, and God is going to do a new thing for you. God is getting ready to release a special grace to help you accomplish a dream. This is the year He is going to exceed your expectations. Ponder upon your blessings. Focus your thoughts on all of the good things and people you have in your life. Dwell on infinite possibilities and joyful expectations, and God’s great, loving and bountiful heart will bring them to pass.

So, make room for all the good things you want to transpire in your life… first in your own thinking. Because when you change your thoughts, you transform your world.