Throwing Back Negative Thoughts

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Those that know me well know that I love baseball. There are many interesting traditions in baseball, but one that has always entertained me is with fans of the Chicago Cubs. When a Cub hits a home run, the fan that catches the ball is able to keep it. However, whenever someone who is on the visiting team hits a home run, the fans actually throw the ball back onto the field. They are able to keep it if they want, but since it’s not a Cubs home run, they throw it back and don’t want to keep it. It is a fun tradition that other teams have now begun to follow.

I was recently reading an article about rejecting negative thoughts. It was interesting because the article did not say to avoid negative thoughts, or even resist them. Instead, it said to reject them. I looked into this further. What does it mean to reject something? The definition I found is to “throw back”. It’s very much like the baseball example. When a Cubs fan catches a home run, they have a choice. Do I keep the ball, or throw it back? In the positive situation of a Cub hitting the ball, they choose to keep it. In the negative situation of an opponent hitting the ball, they choose to reject the ball by throwing it back.

This comparison is the same with our thoughts. We can never stop negative thoughts from coming, and to resist them gives too much energy to the negative situation. The Bible says to take our thoughts captive. We should take time each day to monitor our thoughts. It is up to us to choose the thoughts we wish to accept, and those we wish to reject. When we receive a positive thought, we should keep it and cherish it. When we receive a negative thought, we simply need to reject it. Once again, do not fight the negative thoughts. Simply acknowledge it is there, and throw it back.

I have found that this is a much easier and much more effective way to deal with negative thoughts. Instead of resisting and giving them power, we throw them away, thus making room for more positive thoughts. This is important because our circumstances are determined by our thoughts. The more positive thoughts a person has, the more positive circumstances they will have. In essence, when you throw away the negative thoughts, you throw away most negative circumstances! And the great thing is that you have full control of your thoughts, which is very empowering. So throw away those thoughts you don’t want. Replace each negative thought with a positive one, and I believe you will experience many more positive situations in your life. Enjoy the blessings 🙂

Can Negative Thoughts Be Productive?

I’m going to do something a bit unusual for this post. If you regularly visit this site, you’ll know that I do my best to promote positive thinking, and focusing on God’s truth about us. However, today I’m going to go in a different direction and promote….gasp….negative thoughts???

No, I haven’t become a hypocrite and say one thing and act in an opposite manner (although I am sometimes guilty of that). I haven’t changed my mind and decided that what I’ve been reading and writing about is untrue. Instead, I am applying some very helpful information I’ve studied, sharing it with you, and hoping that it can help all of us.

I’ve written several articles about how harmful negative thoughts can be. If we think negative thoughts, they ultimately play out into negative situations in our lives. I’ve also read and shared different techniques to deal with these thoughts. One very helpful one is the idea of re-framing. This idea is that whenever you notice a negative thought, immediately catch it and replace it with a positive thought. It can be any positive thought, or one opposite of what you were first thinking. For example, if you catch yourself thinking that you are not worthy of something, stop and think of reasons that you ARE worthy. If you don’t feel healthy, think of what it would be like if you were healthy. Those are just some examples.

Recently, I read of a very helpful technique in dealing with negative thoughts. This has produced a great amount of mental healing and personal freedom during the first few weeks of this new year. I read the idea in Rhonda Byrne’s book, “The Greatest Secret.” Several of her books like “The Secret” and “The Magic” have had life-changing impacts on me, and this one is no exception. In fact, I think I like this one best because it is more of an application process instead of just providing information, which is exactly what I need.

Anyway, here is the technique…. one of the greatest reasons negative thoughts cause negative situations in our lives is because we tend to resist them. We know negative thoughts are harmful to us. We don’t want them. So what we do, is we fight the feelings they cause. We fight to try to rid our minds of the thoughts. What happens when we do this though, is we add fuel to their fire.When we resist something, it just causes more if it. Even though we’re trying to do good and rid ourselves of the negative thoughts and feelings, we are doing more harm because we are still remaining focused on the negative situations.

The freedom bringing suggestion given in the book, is to welcome the negative thoughts instead of resisting them. At first, I disagreed because this seems counterproductive. So we’re just letting these harmful negative thoughts rule our minds? No. We are just saying they are welcome. Now, we can add a little more to this. Ms. Byrne says that when we do this instead of resisting, we take away the power they have on us. Eventually, the negative feelings go away. To add to this, she says that any of these same negative feelings that have built of over time also gradually disappear.

Again, I was a bit skeptical at first, but I decided to give this a try. It didn’t even take a day to realize the truth of this. One of the greatest negative emotions I feel is guilt. I am often slow to act, fall short of my potential, and I regularly feel like I could and should do more for people. As I thought about this, I realize how much this has built up in my mind over time. I don’t like to feel guilty, so I fight it. The result is usually more of it! So at that moment, I decided it was OK for me to feel guilty. However, what happened after that was even more amazing. As I accepted the feeling of guilt and that it was OK to feel that way, I started to automatically re-frame the negative thoughts (the technique I discussed earlier). I felt God speaking to me. I felt like He was saying that the guilt that I was holding onto was just my own thought, and it wasn’t His. I was reminded of several Bible verses to back that up, like there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. Like the fact that every sin I’ve ever committed, and every mistake I’ve ever made has already been forgiven because of His death on the cross. On and on I was provided these positive reminders.

I then tried this with other negative thoughts too. I don’t often get angry, but one day there were just several things my wife was doing that were just bothering me. I’m sure you’ve never had that happen to you, but it was happening with me. And it’s not like she was doing it on purpose. Anyway, I caught the negative thoughts as they were happening. Normally, I would try to fight it because I don’t want to think negatively of her. However, I instead welcomed the thoughts and allowed myself to be bothered. After only a few minutes, the negativity lightened, and we ended up having a very nice conversation about something. Lengthy conversations between us don’t happen like they did before, but this was a very pleasant one. What was happening is that, as I accepted and allowed these negative thoughts, I actually felt more positive!

I am realizing more that thoughts and feelings are just that. They are not who I am. More importantly, they don’t control me. I control them. And it is important that I control them because, even though I say they don’t control me, the quality of my thoughts and feelings ultimately controls the quality of my life and circumstances on the outside.

I share this with you because it has been very helpful to me. The process of simply allowing the negative thoughts without resisting them and without letting them control me and determine who I am has been extremely enlightening and liberating. I challenge you to try this as well. Don’t go looking for negative thoughts. However, when you do notice that you are thinking or feeling negative, make yourself aware of it, and welcome the thoughts. Know that it’s OK to have those thoughts, as long as you don’t allow them to overtake you. If you’re like me, you will notice some mental counter arguments. You will feel a release of that negative thought and others like it that have built up in the past. Then those negative clouds eventually disappear, allowing the great light in you to shine uninhibited. That is definitely something to think and feel positive about. Enjoy the blessings 🙂

Two Words to Help You Find Joy

One of the main goals people have is to experience joy in life. For some, it is easier than others. One of the greatest questions is how and where to find that joy.

People seek joy in many different places, such as life experiences, relationships, money, and careers just to name a few. Another question is, why do so many people have a hard time finding joy? I have learned and been recently reminded again, that it’s because they are looking in the wrong places for it. I have often been guilty of this myself.

So how and where do we find this joy that is so often elusive for so many? I can sum it up in two words…. Look inside. Look inside what? Look inside you. It’s so simple. In fact I believe it is too simple, which is why so many people miss it. There are verses all over the Bible that state that the spirit of God is in you. Since that spirit is in you, it is a part of you. You are in union with it! And one of the fruits of that spirit is joy.

You don’t have to go looking for joy. It is already in you and already part of your being. You automatically carry joy, along with the other fruits of the spirit such as love, peace, self-control, etc. with you wherever you are.

Knowing you are already the joy you are seeking, the challenge is to switch your focus. Instead of seeking joy, let the joy that already are shine out from you. How do you do this? There are many ways. What has worked for me is to focus on that joy in me, and also to focus my thoughts on the good in everyone and everything else. Another idea is to watch your thoughts. Remove any thought that interferes with the joy that is already part of you. Doing this follows the Biblical advice to take each thought captive. Feed your mind with joyful thoughts. Ones that are good, noble, and praiseworthy, which is another bit of Biblical advice. Remove the ones that have the potential to cloud the light of the joy that is in you.

I realize that this is a very simple, and basic post. However, as I mentioned before, this concept does not have to be complicated. Remember that joy is already yours. You already have it and are it. Instead of seeking it, let it shine forth brightly from you, without any interference. The Bible says it is God’s will that we are joyful always. Why not follow this advice and deliberately experience this joy that is a part of all of us. Enjoy the blessings 🙂

Using Biblical Faith to Reprogram Your Subconscious Mind

I discuss often on this site about how the quality of your life in your outer world is very much dependent on the quality of life in your inner world, that inner world being the consistent thoughts and emotions in your mind and heart. This is backed up in the Bible which has many verses I’ve shared here often about the outer world being a reflection of the inner.

Whether the information comes from psychologists, scientists, or spiritual teachers, it is all the same. If you want to make positive changes in your world, you need to start on the inside. Whatever your subconscious mind (or your heart as the subconscious is often referred to in the Bible) believes as fact is eventually what plays out in your world. Therefore, profound changes occur when you change the established beliefs in your subconscious mind. For example, let’s say someone is seeking a long-term relationship and they are having difficulty finding the right person. This is most likely because of a subconscious belief that they are not worthy of a good person, they are unhappy with the way they look, or just believe that the right person is not out there. With this belief, they (most of the time unknowingly) are creating situations that reflect these beliefs. They are rejected for dates; they wear clothing that doesn’t fit well or is out of style, and subtly do things that prove that the right one is not there for them.

Once again, this is all because of the beliefs that are fixed in their subconscious mind. In order to change the results, this individual would first have to change the mental blueprint, the beliefs in their subconscious mind. Instead of constantly thinking and imagining the negatives I mentioned before, they can think positively. In their mind, they can see themselves as worthy and attractive. They can affirm that there are plenty of good people out there looking for the same type of relationship they are. If these thoughts are maintained, they will see different results. They will find people who see them as worthy, and attractive. It’s all about changing the mental process, the thoughts, beliefs and feelings, to reflect what is desired.

It’s always amazing to me when I read something in a secular book about psychological and scientific information, and then I read the same concept in the Bible. I have learned that it is not coincidence, but instead a confirmation that the suggestions being taught are indeed truthful. This happened to me again (as it has many times) recently. I was reading about programming the subconscious mind with the desired outcomes to enable them to manifest in my life. I was lead to two Bible verses about faith. After all, the Bible says that when you have faith, all things are possible. You receive in your life based on the level of your faith. In essence, when you change the subconscious blueprint to reflect your greatest desires, you are building your faith to the point where it allows God to do miracles in your life.

Here are the two key verses I was lead to. It was a revelation, even though I’ve read and reflected on these verses countless times before. In fact the second one I’ll mention is my favorite in the entire Bible! Hebrews 11:1 provides a very clear definition of what faith is… “the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things we cannot see. Where is that substance and evidence? It’s in our minds! When we imagine something in our minds, and feel it’s reality, that makes it as real as if we were actually experiencing it. Try this… imagine someone dropping an ice cube down the back of your shirt. If you are focused enough, you will probably feel a chill. When I’m hot and sweaty, I often imagine submerging my head in a cold bucket of ice water. I feel cooler almost instantly. It works every time. There’s also a story about how a group of people actually practiced shooting free throws on a basketball court. Another group visualized taking the shots but never physically went on the court. When they traced their progress a week later, those that visualized the shots did almost as well as those that physically took the shots in reality. This proves what science has said for a very long time…your subconscious mind cannot tell the difference between a real and imagined event.

That leads me to the next verse. Mark 11:24 says, “whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” I believe that when you pray, you are developing the substance of what you hope for. When you believe you already have it, you are providing the evidence of what you can’t yet see materially. And another Bible verse says that, “it is done for you according to your faith.” When you convince your subconscious mind that you have what you desire, even in your imagination (remember that even in your imagination your subconscious mind believes it is real), you already have it. And according to Jesus, if you believe you already have it, your prayer will be answered.

How does it all happen? There are a variety of ways, and the way your desire is realized now may be different than ones that have been realized before. When we pray, we are communicating with God. That is powerful enough, and will add much peace and power to our lives. God answers in a variety of ways. He may not even answer in the way that you expect. However, He always answers in the way that is best for us. Another great thing that happens is that, as our belief in the fulfilled desire strengthens, we tend to automatically take actions that put us in the position to receive our desire. Going back to my example about seeking a fulfilling relationship, if you act is if the right person is already in your life even though it’s not a reality yet, you are going to feel good. You automatically act more confidently, keep yourself attractive, and even go places where you are more likely to meet someone. These actions set you up for what God has for you. Ultimately, it manifests in your world.

I will say again that in order to change external situations in your life, you need to change the beliefs of your subconscious mind. Use your imagination. Visualize yourself in the positive situations you wish to encounter. Affirm positive words of excellence. Experience the corresponding feelings. This is how your original beliefs were formed. The great thing is that you have full control of the thoughts and images you allow into your mind. When you see yourself as the person you want to be, you become that person! As your beliefs are changed, you will see the manifestation of those changes and many positive results play out in your life. And the best thing of all is that God promises this to us in His word, and His word never fails. Enjoy the blessings 🙂

A Good Friday Reminder

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Each Good Friday, I like to reflect on what the day represents. My fellow Christians believe Jesus was crucified on a cross. God gave us His only son to demonstrate His love for us. This son willingly gave up His life as a reminder of His love for us.

As I reflected this morning, here are the thoughts that entered my mind…

Because of what He did, I am forgiven. Every sin of action and omission, every mistake I’ve ever made, and every stupid thing I’ve ever said and done is gone and forgotten.

Because of what He did, His spirit is in me, around me, and always with me.

Because of what He did, I always have a spirit of power in me and with me.

Because of what He did, I am healed.

Because of what He did I prosper, and already am successful.

Because of what He did, I already have the solution to every problem, and the answer to every question.

Because of what He did, all joy is available to me.

Because of what He did, all abundance is available to me.

Because of what He did, I know without a doubt that I am loved in a way that I can never even imagine.

Because of what He did, I can be confident in every situation.

Because of what He did, I am completely free.

Because of what He did, I am extremely thankful for all of these things I’ve just mentioned.

Because of what He did, I am responsible to share this love, forgiveness, abundance, power, joy, and excellence with everyone I come in contact with. It’s the very least I can do in return for what this loving act on the cross has given me, even though He expects absolutely nothing in return.

This is just a short list of all we have been given as a result of the sacrifice on the cross. It’s a not a fair deal. He gets brutally beaten and crucified, and receives all of our punishment when He was completely innocent. In return, we get no punishment for our sins, and all of the benefits of the kingdom of heaven and all of the privileges of being sons of the king. However, He would still do it over and over again for us. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is. I challenge you to reflect on this sacrifice today and be thankful for what this day represents and for what you’ve been given. Enjoy the blessings 🙂

Two Words That Bring True Happiness

One thing so many people crave in life is happiness. People are looking for the magic pill to take or whatever formula they can use to bring more of it (or any of it for some people) into their lives.

As I was doing some reading today, I found a very simple process that can add much happiness to your life. I know it’s true because the times I’ve followed this guideline in my own life I can honestly say have been the happiest times in my life.

It comes from Proverbs 16:20 which says, “Whoever pays attention to what he is taught will succeed. And whoever trusts the Lord will be happy.” It’s the second part of this verse that caught my attention, and that I want to share with you here. Whoever trusts in the Lord will be happy. That’s it! One of the great keys to happiness is simply trusting in the Lord.

Now, I know from experience that many times it is not easy to trust in the Lord. If we can’t see it or believe it yet, it is very difficult to have faith and trust that everything is going to be ok. I get that, and I still have times in my life, after all I’ve been learned about what I share here, that I still struggle to follow this advice myself. However, when we learn to “let go and let God”, and trust that “all things work our for our good” (Romans 8:28), that is when we experience true happiness.

Several years ago I went through a major trust experience. I was working as a teacher, but the job was temporary. It ended at the end of the school year, but there was a chance that I could earn a permanent position at that school, with the increase in pay and job security that went with it. At the same time, my family and I were presented with the opportunity to buy our dream house. It was a very optimistic time. I felt like I had earned the right to that secure job at the school, and couldn’t wait to finally bring our family to the beautiful house. All was good until I received the letter from the school saying they were not bringing me back. That was crushing in itself, but now, as the primary income earner of my family, I would be out of a job as of September. That would not look good in the middle of applying for a mortgage for a house that would already be a strain on our finances. I was so afraid that they would cancel the application and deny us the mortgage. I didn’t say anything to the mortgage company. I had worked for that company for several years before becoming a teacher and even worked there still at that time as a part-time assistant. I wasn’t going to say anything to them about this. I wasn’t hiding anything because I was confident I would have another job by September, and they go through a verification process so they would eventually find out what they need to know and make any necessary determinations. However, for a couple of weeks, I really stressed over this situation. Then one day I just felt God speaking to me. I felt like I was being told to let it go, and put the situation in His hands. I could almost hear Him saying, “trust me.” All of a sudden, the burden of stress completely lifted. Instead of fear, I had a sincere trust that this was in God’s hands, and things would work out best for my family and me. I not only felt more peace but also carried a feeling of joy. God had spoken to me and assured me that all was good. Who better to trust than the creator of the entire universe? As it turns out, the company never even questioned me about the job situation. The mortgage was approved easily, and we were in our new house a few weeks later. And yes, by mid-August I had a new teaching job as well 🙂

Although this is one of the major examples in my life, there have been many others where God has proven to me that I can put my full trust in Him. And when I do, I am most happy in my life. I share this with you because if you are looking for true happiness in your life, the most simple way to achieve it is by trusting God and knowing that “if He can hold the whole world in His hands, He can hold this moment” (Jason Gray from his song “Sparrows”). He can hold any moment, any situation, and any problem, with the power to bring good to it.

Remember, whoever trusts the Lord will be happy. Other versions of the verse say that besides happiness, trusting in the Lord can bring blessings and prosperity as well. The Amplified Bible version says, “Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) is he who trusts [confidently] in the Lord.” I will say again that sometimes (ok, many times) it is not easy to trust in the Lord. However, the more you do, the more your faith grows and you realize that He has only your best interests in mind, and He is there for you all the time to help you live well.

You do not have to rely on external things to make you happy. The God of the universe dwells in your midst. He is right there for you all the time. Trust Him in every situation, and you will experience a happiness that you never have before. Enjoy the blessings 🙂

Use Your Imagination to Dream God’s Dreams

 

The following is part 2 of an excellent sermon I heard recently about the power of imagination. Following these guidelines can change your life. I invite you to listen, apply, and enjoy 🙂

Most people don’t imagine because they’re afraid of failure, but doubt and fear neutralize what God wants to do in your life. Pastor Rick explains in this message how to let your imagination be governed by faith, not fear.

Source: Daring to Imagine, Part 2

Using God’s Great Gift…The Power of Imagination

I am a firm believer in the power of imagination. Much of the information provided on this site is based on that. Recently, I heard an incredible message from pastor Rick Warren about God’s gift of imagination. It’s the best presentation of this that I’ve ever heard. There are three messages. I will provide one each day.

Daring to Imagine, Part 1

The Bible says you need to focus on the things that will last — the things you can’t actually see with your eyes. So how do you focus on things you can’t see? In this broadcast, Pastor Rick teaches why your imagination is essential to living by faith.

Source: Daring to Imagine, Part 1

3 Ways You Can Please God Today

 

I don’t know about you, but nothing pleases me more that when I know I’ve pleased my God. To be honest, He is always pleased with us, whether we know it or not. He is pleased with us even during our darkest moments. He loves us more than we’ll ever know.

Even though God will always love you abundantly and be pleased with His wonderful creation, there are actions you can take to get God’s attention and put an even bigger smile on His face. I take these from Psalm 9:

1. Praise Him with all your heart
2. Tell of the marvelous things He has done
3. Be filled with joy because of Him

In addition to bringing joy to God, taking these 3 actions regularly will add blessing to your life. I have learned often enough, that when I am thankful for the things I have in life, I am given more things to be thankful for. Likewise when I live with a joyful heart, I am provided more reasons to be joyful.

One of the reasons I share information on this blog is because I want to share the great things God has shown me and the wonderful things he has done for me. My hope is to inspire people facing similar situations and feelings that if God brought me through it, He can do the same for them. He can do the same for you.

Joy and gratitude are contagious. Not only are our lives blessed when we practice them, but other people around us are blessed as well. You can not only be a blessing to God, but to many others by simply practicing these three attitudes. So be thankful, joyful, and quick to share the many ways God has blessed you. It WILL make a difference. Enjoy the blessings 🙂

 

 

Thank You For Sticking With Me

Oh, my goodness. I just realized exactly how long I’ve been away from this site. I knew it was some time, but not this long. Life has been very busy lately, as it usually is this time of year. Things are good. It’s just that I am not finding enough hours in the day to do some of the things I like to do. Sharing my thoughts with you is one of those things I love, but it just got pushed to the backburner longer than I would have liked.

I apologize to anyone looking for new information here. However, I thank all of you who keep coming back. Even though I haven’t written in a while I still have a good number of people coming back and utilizing the information that is provided here. It means a lot to me, and I hope you are being impacted in a positive way.

As my schedule changes in the next few weeks I will have more time to devote to this site that I love, along the wonderful readers I truly love. Once again, please know how much I appreciate your continued support and feedback.

Have an excellent day 🙂