Positive Self Talk

Where does positive self talk come from? God's word. These are God's words about your relationship with Jesus:

Words about Christ: Eph 1:20-23 ...which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Words about You: Eph 2:5-6 ...even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Focus on these words. Pay close attention to the fact the He said "when we were dead in our transgressions..." That means we didn't earn it. Also, notice that it is all in past tense. That means it's already done.

It's time to stop putting yourself down, and realize that you are already up. Exercise the power of the cross in your thinking and positive self talk. That means your old thoughts are already put to death on the cross, and you are already fresh and new. Just believe what God says.

Positive Thinking

Positive thinking is so very critical that I am pulling pieces of two previous posts from Blog for Life, my forum about healing from depression and anxiety. I believe these two pieces are vital to a closer walk with God. Apparently, thinking differently is a "must do" AND a first step. Why else would John the Baptist preach repentance before Jesus came on the ministry scene? (Matthew 3)

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Rene' Descartes' philosophy, "I think, therefore I am," has been debated, quoted, discussed, written about and THOUGHT about for centuries now. I have only recently, begun to understand it and I fear that it is absolutely true! My thought life is something that I have struggled with for years now. It was the reason I fell into depression. It was the reason I could not climb out. I made me spiritually, physically and emotionally unstable!

I have noticed, simply through observation that people who think negatively are sick more often than those who think positively. Those who think bad things are always going to happen to them, always experience bad things! My husband thinks positively every day about his health, finances, etc. He never gets sick and he is never late on his mortgage! more

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Recently, after reading the scripture above, I felt the need to look up the word repent. Obviously, I thought I already knew what it meant, but just wanted to look a little deeper. I had always been told that it simply meant to turn away from sin; stop what you are doing and do what is right. More than likely, you have heard the same. I was amazed to find that all it really meant was to think differently.

Later, that same day, I heard a remarkable sermon about repentance from Dr. Stephen Manley. He explained that repentance not only meant to think differently, but to CONTINUOUSLY think differently. It's not something we do once. (You know the usual drill: Repentance - Baptism - Go to Church...) It's something we must always do. more

Healing Anxiety

Healing anxiety requires you to lose your fear. Losing your fear requires you to change your focus. What is most important to you? Think about that for a moment and consider the fear it brings you. Then, read on.

This is a favorite to many people, BUT most get it backwards as usual. You hear lots of people saying "Don't worry about it, God is in control."

Take a second look at these verses. Jesus is not saying don't worry. He is saying, "Change your focus, then you don't have to worry." God is really not in control until we GIVE Him control. Remember, we have free will.

CHANGE YOUR FOCUS:

Matt 6:19-23 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO MONEY:

Matt 6:24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. NIV

THEN, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WORRY.

Matt 6:25-33 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry , saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. NIV

Read a more detailed study on healing anxiety.