Being Positive 2-11-06

Being Positive I believe God has given us a model to keep a positive attitude in Joshua 1:8: This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Three parts of Joshua 1:8 stand out: (1) Positive Thinking: - "But thou shalt meditate therein day and night…." The Bible says in Proverbs 23:7 that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. If you want to stay positive, you are going to have to think positive. You need to think on the Word! The Bible is the most positive, absolute thing out there. What you think on matters. The apostle Paul says this in Philippians 4:8: Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. If you are continually thinking about the goodness of God, you won't have any time to dwell on negative thoughts that may get you down and discouraged. What you think about yourself is also significant. Find out who you are according to the Word. Don't listen to what the world says; you define yourself by what God says about you. That means you are who God says that you are, you can have what God says you can have, you can do what God says you can do. When you are in Christ, there is no limit to the good things that are in you. "I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings" (Ps. 77:12). (2) Positive Speaking: - "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth…." When I was about seven or eight, I was doing a lot of complaining. In an effort to encourage me, my Dad gave me the first of many pep talks. "Say something positive!", he said. So I straightened up, mustered up my cheeriest voice and said, "Negative!" Obviously, I needed to hear some good preaching on positive confession! What comes out of our mouth is so important. Proverbs 12:14 says, "A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth." For example, think about how you were saved (Rom 10:9-10). You believed in your heart and confessed the Lord Jesus as your Savior. We need to keep the Word continually in our mouths, particularly the things that remind us of who we are in Christ and what we have in Christ. Philemon 1:6 says that the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. Find the scriptures

in the Bible that have the phrase "In Him," "In Whom," and "In Christ." When you find these scriptures, mark them, meditate on them, and start confessing them over your life. You'll be amazed at the positive changes that happen in your life. (3) Positive Action: - "That thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein…." James 1:22 (AMP) says "But obey the message; be doers of the Word and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the truth]." The Bible is filled with positive confession, and we need to act upon that positive confession. Just as faith without works is dead, so is a positive attitude without action. If the Word says you are the light of the world, how are you going to act? If the scripture says you are the righteousness of God in Christ, how are you going to act? If the Bible says you are the healed, how you going to act? When we act upon God's word, we authenticate our confession. And when our actions are authentic, our positive actions will encourage others to do the same. In Deut. 28:1-2 it says, And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee…. Keeping a positive attitude is crucial to your success in life. Isaiah 1:19 states that if you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land. Willing is a condition of the heart that reflects your attitude. And the only difference between a stumbling block and a stepping stone is your attitude.

Proverbs 23:7 (TM) 7He'll be as stingy with you as he is with himself; he'll say, "Eat! Drink!" but won't mean a word of it. 7For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. Proverbs 12:14 (TM) 14Well-spoken words bring satisfaction; well-done work has its own reward. 14A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him. Philemon 1:6 (TM) 6And I keep praying that this faith we hold in common keeps showing up in the good things we do, and that people recognize Christ in all of it. 6That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. James 1:22 (TM) 22Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! 22But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. Isaiah 1:19 (TM) 19If you'll willingly obey, you’ll feast like kings. 19If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: