The power of positive, Christ-like thinking

Funny how our minds work sometimes. This is a reflection I had while my husband was ordering something from a drive thru.

My mind went back to those good old childhood years. I remembered how I used to talk to myself a lot (does any of you do this?) and pretend that I was receiving an award or winning a contest of some sorts.

"First place for the BULPRISA (Bulacan Private Schools Association) singing contest...Engracia Delia Carlos!"

"Valedictorian...Engracia Delia Carlos!"

"Winner for the poster-making contest....Engracia Delia Carlos!"

I thought about this because I have been having a lot of self-defeating thoughts lately about my career, vocation, and life in general. It occured to me that my thoughts may be affecting my reality.

Not to boast but just to prove a point, I did win those contests above and I did graduate valedictorian in Elementary and High School. I often ask myself today, "What has happened to me? Why have I gone from being a winner to being a loser?"

So much has happened since then of course. I will not say that I was entirely on a losing streak after high school just because I stopped winning contests and receiving awards. I will say that God has reasons for allowing me to taste defeat. PRIDE, for example, was a big problem of mine. It still is today--something I have to watch out for.

However, I feel that God is telling me that it's time to pick up the pieces again and "break up my unplowed grounds" Jer.4:3.

I have lingered in so much self-defeat that it has become unhealthy and limiting for me. It's become ungodly to some point. I believe that a Christian should feel the most victorious of all.

I'm at a stage of my life where I'm trying to discover what my real skills, talents, or gifts are. It is increasingly becoming clear that wisdom and depth of insight is a strength of mine. God has given me the gift of insight and I desire to use it help others. He has also equipped me with some writing and counseling skills -- this is how I best communicate, I think.

I guess that's why I'm starting to want to share these insights to more and more people-- with the hope that people will actually pay attention, read, learn.

Anyway, back to the topic. I shared these thoughts with my husband and he agreed. There is POWER in POSITIVE THINKING.

Then we asked ourselves...is this secular thinking? Is positive thinking just a new age idea? Is it humanistic and not God-focused?

Then we scanned our minds for some scriptures that actually show to some degree that positive, Christ-like thinking is a COMMAND. Every Christian must learn how to exercise this.

Here are some of those scriptures:

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Cor. 10:5

Our thoughts are to be obedient to Christ. Remember that we have an adversary, the devil, who often speak in such smooth lies that they seem to be true. When we are enslaved or bothered by a certain thought, let us ask ourselves, "Is this a Christ-like thought?" or "Do these thoughts come from Christ/God?"

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Phil. 4:7-9

In speaking about peace of mind--peace that passes understanding, actually---Paul commands us to think only good thoughts. These will guard our hearts and minds.

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Heb. 12:2

Nowhere is positive thinking more exuded than in calvary, when Jesus was nailed to the cross. While dying, Jesus felt joy for what was about to happen. He saw heaven before Him. He saw souls being saved and people being freed from the fear of death. He saw us having a way back to God once again.

No wonder He is the perfecter and author of our faith.

POSITIVE, CHRISTLIKE THINKING...should we call it FAITH then?

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Heb. 11:1

"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:24

I still vividly remember when I discovered Mark 11:24 while on vacation church school many years ago. It was like a light-bulb of insight for me.

In my childish thinking I decided to "test" this scripture. My favorite basketball team was on a "losing streak" and I've been receiving a lot of taunting from my cousins. The morning I read this scripture I prayed, "God, please make my favorite basketball team win. I know that it will happen because nothing is impossible with you."

In a declaration of faith, I told my cousins, "Ginebra (my team), will win tonight. You just see." They won with a two-point shot on the last 2-3 seconds of the game. From then on, I hugged my Bibles everytime I watched basketball.

In conclusion, I think in terms of my career and future, my faith is hurt. I've been doing lip-services to God by saying "nothing is impossible with God," but I've not been living like I mean it. I need to repent.

So, in a statement of faith, let me share my dream with you...

Engracia Delia Carlos...author, counselor, family advocate, and speaker.

It is time to just go with the strength that I have and rely on God's power all the way.

Positive, Christ-like thinking.

PRAYER:

Dear Father,

Years of defeat, pains, goals-not-met, heartaches have hurt my faith. Dear Lord, I pray that you heal me from my faithlessness, weak arms, feeble knees, and allow me to soar on wings like eagles.

Lord, my pride has hindered me in the past and has caused my destruction. I ask that you forgive me from my sin and clothe me with humility. Let me do great things for you Lord and make this life count.

Use the gifts you have given me to fulfill your irrevocable calling for me. May I make you proud. Amen.