Staying Positive

For a long time, keeping a positive attitude is something God has been pushing down on in my life, personally and professionally. There are so many small things that weigh us down and seem much bigger than they are. As they weigh us down and we think about them more and more, it affects our attitude, or at least mine. I become more and more negative. This infiltrates every aspect of my life: my marriage, how I treat my kids, what I think of my employees and organization, and I become more critical of my Church.

But right here in scripture, God tells us through Paul that we need to always think of the positive that is going on around us. Do you think the Church in Phillipi didn't have anything negative going on around them? No persecution, no lack of resources, no problematic human beings, no real world issues? No! They were experiencing a huge growth of Christ's Church, but it couldn't have been without every day, normal to extreme problems. And God tells them to focus on the positive, on everything of excellence, and that which is right.

Now this, I'm sure, can manifest itself in many ways, but at the end of the day we are called to dwell on the good and positive, not the negative. Christ followers are called to be the positive, light shining folks of the world, presumably to more easily spread the Gospel of Christ. Do we like being around negative people? What are the chances someone who is characteristically negative would be able to effectively share the Gospel through their life and words? No one likes to be around negative people-they're a drag!

We're called to be more. We're called to be the light of the world, and we're called to do it with a positive mind, dwelling on that which is worthy of praise, not criticism. There may be a time for criticism, but we are not to dwell there, and it should always be in love.

Lord, help me move to the positive, with my words and actions. Let my first reactions be characterized by being uplifting, righteous, and just, because that is your will for my life. Let me always realize that my attitude affects those around me and You want that affect to glorify You. Give me the strength to perform your will. In Jesus name-Amen.

Created about 1 year ago