POSITIVE PERSPECTIVE
Kimberly Lawrence
Today's Scripture: “Finally, my brothers, rejoice the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.” Philippians 3:1, ESV
Theme: Don’t obsess about the negative. Instead, rejoice in the Lord.
Have you ever noticed that when something is on your mind, you see more and more of it? When I thought of starting a family, all I saw were pregnant women and strollers. When I wanted to buy a new Toyota, suddenly that model was all I saw on the road. When I’m trying to “eat better,” there seems to ONLY be fast-food commercials on TV. Truthfully, the circumstances around me probably didn’t change, but my perspective and what I was looking for had.
You’ve undoubtedly heard of the “self-fulfilling prophecy.” That’s simply the physical outcome of a situation being influenced by our own thinking, either positively or negatively. Think about that for a moment. What I choose to focus on mentally can affect a physical outcome. The Mayo Clinic suggests positive thinking contributes to an increased life span, greater resilience to illness, reduced risk of death from cancer, respiratory conditions, or infections, as well as a lower rate of depression. Positive thinking doesn’t mean ignoring life’s unpleasantries, it just means you approach them in a more productive way.
PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE!
I have a friend who I can only describe as the embodiment of sunshine. She is perpetually optimistic and the most joyful person I know. She is a believer who sees good in every person and in every circumstance. When our kids were little and experiencing the occasional meltdown moments, I distinctly remember her getting down on one knee in front of her daughter’s face and saying, “Put. A. Smile. On. Your. Face!” She believes that if you smile, even through a difficult time, your mind and heart will soon believe it, too. You can ALWAYS find something to be happy about. And she preaches, “Nobody wants to be around a crabapple,” which is also true! Does this mean she never experiences frustration, grief, or inconvenience? Certainly not, but she doesn’t wallow in it.
We’ve all been there. You know, the time or place when nothing seems to go your way and you must make a choice: find the well-hidden positive or succumb to the negative. The best place to bear witness to a test like this is at Disney World. Picture this…you’ve planned the vacation of your dreams. You’ve saved for months, maybe years, to afford for your small family to visit “the happiest place on earth.” You’ve spent hours making dining reservations, mapping out how you’ll cover each park, and packed enough supplies for an army. Let the magic begin!
Then it starts. You fight traffic for hours just to get there and, as a bonus, one child gets carsick. The park is crowded, you spend hours in long lines, or trying to find your stroller. It’s 95 degrees and humid. You’ve sweat through all your clothes by 10:00 am. You start yelling at your spouse and the kids want to go back to the hotel pool. Sound familiar? I laugh just writing this, but you can see how it happens. Pretty soon, all you can see is what’s going wrong! It takes a deliberate choice to re-focus on what this experience is about, step back to see it through your children’s eyes, and press on with a positive outlook.
There are certainly more severe trials in life than what I’ve lightheartedly described, but nothing prevents us from finding the silver lining, even if we need to look a little harder. We will find a quicker recovery from setbacks and greater peace when we acknowledge what’s going right and where God has already provided.
Make It Personal: Sometimes, inconvenient things happen. Just because your food is cold, someone cut you off in traffic, or a friend said something that aggravated you, doesn’t necessarily mean you have to react to it or relay it to someone else. Verbalized negativity gives the incident misplaced value and energy. What if we make it a point to ask a different question when hardship or inconvenience hit? Rather than, “Why me?”, “Why did God let this happen?” or “Woe is me,” stop and pray. Ask God, “Where are You taking me?” or “What are You asking me to learn from this?” Not only will focusing on the positive bring us greater joy, but it will also make it more enjoyable to be around us!
Pray: God, You’ve given me so much for which to be happy and thankful. Help me avoid the trap of negativity. Remind me that peace is found in You rather than in my worldly circumstances. Refocus my mind and heart on where You are taking me, not where I am or even where I’ve been. I trust in Your plan and know that each moment in it is perfect. Even when I may not understand, help me to trust You. Amen
Read: Psalm 30:1-5; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-9; Romans 12:12
Weekly Memory Verse: “The the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6b, NIV