This book in its entiretyfrom literary development to artwork and final designis a creation of Koechel Peterson&Associates, Inc. Artwork by Katia Andreeva is reproduced under license from Koechel Peterson&Associates, Inc. and may not be reproduced without permission. For information regarding art prints featured in this book, please contact: Koechel Peterson&Associates, Inc., 2600 East 26th Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55406; 1-612-721-5017.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Amplified Bible ( AMP ). The Amplified Bible, Old Testament . Copyright 1965, 1987 by The Zondervan Corporation. The Amplified New Testament , copyright 1954, 1958, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from The New King James Version . Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.
Copyright 2003 by Joyce Meyer
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Faith Words
Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Visit our Web site at www.HachetteBookGroup.com
First eBook Edition: May 2003
Faith Words is a division of Hachette Book Group USA, Inc.
The Faith Words Publishing name and logo is a trademark of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
ISBN: 978-0-446-54902-8
Contents
Presented to:
By:
Date:
Occasion:
Positive minds produce positive lives.
Positive thoughts are always
full of faith and hope.
G ODS W ORD FOR Y OU
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
P ROVERBS 23:7
Then to the centurion Jesus said, Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed. And the servant boy was restored to health at that very moment.
M ATTHEW 8:13
T HE P OWER OF B EING P OSITIVE
M any years ago, I was an extremely negative person. My whole philosophy was this: If you dont expect anything good to happen, then you wont be disappointed when it doesnt. So many devastating things had happened to me over the years that I was afraid to believe that anything good might happen. Since my thoughts were all negative, so was my mouth; therefore, so was my life.
Perhaps youre like me. Youre avoiding hope to protect yourself against being hurt. This type of behavior sets up a negative lifestyle. Everything becomes negative because the thoughts are negative.
When I really began to study the Word and to trust God to restore me, one of the first things I realized was that the negativism had to go. And the longer I serve God, the more I realize the tremendous power in being positive in my thoughts and words.
Our actions are a direct result of our thoughts. A negative mind will result in a negative life. But if we renew our mind according to Gods Word, we will, as Romans 12:2 promises, prove in our experience the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
It is a vital necessity that we line up our thoughts
with Gods thoughts. This is a process that
will take time and study.
G ODS W ORD FOR Y OU
We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.
R OMANS 8:28
A LL T HINGS W ORK FOR G OOD
The apostle Paul does not say that all things are good, but he does say that all things work together for good .
Lets say you get in your car, and it wont start. There are two ways you can look at the situation. You can say, I knew it! It never fails. My plans always flop. Or you can say, Well, it looks as though I cant leave right now. Ill go later when the car is fixed. In the meantime, I believe this change in plans is going to work out for my good. There is probably some reason I need to be at home today, so Im going to enjoy my time here.
Paul also tells us in Romans 12:16 to readily adjust yourself to [people, things]. The idea is that we must learn to become the kind of person who plans things but who doesnt fall apart if that plan doesnt work out.
The choice is ours. Any time we dont get what we want, our feelings will rise up and try to get us into self-pity and a negative attitude. Or we can adjust to the situation and go ahead and enjoy what God has for us no matter what happens.
The pathway to freedom from negativity begins when we
face the problem without making excuses for it.
G ODS W ORD FOR Y OU
Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!
2 C ORINTHIANS 5:17
A N EW D AY
As a new creation, you dont have to allow the old things that happened to you to keep affecting your new life in Christ. You are a new creature with a new life in Christ. You can have your mind renewed according to the Word of God. Good things are going to happen to you!
Begin to think positively about your life. That doesnt mean that you can get anything you want by just thinking about it. God has a perfect plan for each of us, and we cant control Him with our thoughts and words. But, we must think and speak in agreement with His will and plan for us.
If you dont have any idea what Gods will is for you at this point, at least begin by thinking, Well, I dont know Gods plan, but I know He loves me. Whatever He does will be good, and Ill be blessed.
The hardest part is saying to yourself, I want to change. I cant change myself, but I believe God will change me as I trust Him. I know it will take time, and Im not going to get discouraged with myself. God has begun a good work in me, and He is well able to bring it to full completion (see Philippians 1:6).
Jesus will set you free to enjoy the good things in life.
Trust God to renew your mind with His Word!
G ODS W ORD FOR Y OU
However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you].
And when He comes, He will convict and convince the world and bring demonstration to it about sin and about righteousness (uprightness of heart and right standing with God) and about judgment.
J OHN 16:78
