Day by Day - Mar. 24, 2009
March 24, 2009
How to Have a Positive Attitude
by Charles R. Swindoll
We've been thinking a lot about the negative impact of out-of-control emotions. Let's turn the subject around and consider the flip side of this---the value of a positive mental attitude. By that, we're not referring to some sort of self-induced motivation to "think positive." It's deeper than that---much deeper. In fact, the foundation of this positive mental attitude is sourced in a statement that appears in one of the letters of the New Testament:
Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. (Philippians 4:8)
Talk about a mouthful! I can tell you from my own personal experience, when I fix my mind on these things, it's amazing how my emotions fall in line and are impacted positively. The same can happen in your life too. In fact, whoever hopes to take on life with a great attitude, filled with enthusiasm, needs to focus on those six things. To help us understand them better, let's read them again, paraphrased from The Message:
Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious---the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. (4:8 MSG)
Reprinted by permission. Day by Day, Charles Swindoll, July 2005, Thomas Nelson, inc., Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved. Purchase "Day by Day" here.
