Make up your mind to live your life joyful

“I’ve not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of sound mind.” (1 Timothy 2:7). Eleanor H. Porter’s 1913 novel, Pollyanna was a success when it was published. Then, years later, actress Halley Mills starred in the movie version. She portrayed the optimistic, infectiously joyful orphan, Pollyanna Whittier.

Young Pollyanna moved to the United States from England to live with her aunt because her mother and father both died as missionaries in Africa.

Throughout the film, Pollyanna always searched for the positive side of each situation. Pollyanna didn’t ignore the negative. Rather, she chose not to dwell on it. This young girl did her best to look for the good in herself and also to see the good in others. She humbled herself under the mighty hand of God, and her joy affected everyone in her realm of influence. For Pollyanna tried to make something beneficial out of every circumstance, adversity, or disappointment.

In the movie, Pollyanna spoke of a quote from Abraham Lincoln that she wore in a locket around her neck. Her father gave her the locket and within were these words, “When you look for the bad in mankind expecting to find it, you surely will.”

Next, Pollyanna said, “After my father heard that quote he looked only for the good in people and made up the ‘glad’ game.” This was a game her father started to cover up the challenges and difficulties of life. Pollyanna went on to recall her father saying, “If God took the trouble to tell us in the Bible 800 times to be ‘glad,’ He must have wanted us to do it.”

We all have had our share of sorrows, disappointments and challenges. Thus, we must have a regimen of discipline to combat the negativity that can sometimes bombard our minds.

Remember, the focus of our thoughts is what determines our attitudes and feelings. One negative thought can neutralize dozens of positive ones, and this can severely impact your day. Therefore, let’s saturate our whole being with, as Pollyanna said, the “glad” verses in the Bible. Let’s put them in our memory and speak and repeat them aloud daily. Here are a few:

•“This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24).

•“Thou has put glad- ness in my heart.” (Psalm 126:5).

•“But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God; yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.” (Psalm 68:3).

•“Come before His presence with thanksgiving and make a joyful noise unto the Lord.” (Psalm 95:2).

•“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4).

Condition your mind to look for the good. And get on a positive track by living out what the apos-

tle Paul wrote to the Philippians (4:8-9): “Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable…. if anything is excellent or praiseworthy…think about such things … and the God of peace will be with you.” Smile; grin from ear to ear. Stand up tall. Center your attention on your blessings. Appreciation works miracles and adjusts our thinking. A grateful heart is a happy heart; so let us fill our mind with thankfulness, and we can find ourselves renewed and strengthened.

Even a few small changes can make a huge difference.

Thus, try this: Sit down and make a list of 10 things you’re grateful for right now. Of what are you most proud? Who in your life do you love? Who loves you? Jot down the answers that come into your heart.

Every morning talk optimistically Allow good to overflow in your life by deliberately, consciously and consistently asserting positive words.

Remember; use exact declarations to meet definite needs. Talk of the upside. Call them forth. Draw them in.

Pray them again and again. Stand on the promises of God and declare what He is going to do for you.

Give, serve, and love others as you speak blessing into your life… and thank God every day, trusting in the One who loves you so much!

So make up your mind to live your life joyful.