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POSITIVE THINKING/VISUALIZATION

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FREEINDEED:
I was watching Oprah Friday and she had a guest on there talking about a DVD and Book entitle "The Secret."  The book is basically talking about positive thinking/visualization.  Meaning that if your more positive your life will be better.  I kind of agree with this,  because I have experience this in my personal life and I also try to tell people that things will be better if they would think more positively about their situation instead of being negative.  But now I would like to dig a little bit more deeper.  I would like to know how you feel about this.  Is it True or False.  I really want to know if there are any Scriptures to back up this Theory.

rrammfcitktturjsp:
FreeIndeed,

  Sounds very much like Christain Science and the Unity way of thinking.  Guys help me out, there's tons of Scriptures that say that we will face trials. 

  Think on Jesus, one of the most positive thinkers in the bible, yet he ended getting nailed to a cross.  What about Paul, whose writings are for the most part upbeat and very passionate, and yet there is a chapter that states all that has happened to him, him getting beaten, starving, shipwricked, whipped, and ect.  Then we can think of John the Apostle, he got exiled.  King David, a man after God's own heart, sinned with Uriah's wife and then by counting the fighting men later on.  Solomon who was the wisest man, sinned by marrying all those women and following their gods thus, introducing idolotry in the life.

  I believe it is James Chapter 1 that talks about trials.  This life is not promised to be easy for sure.  Yet, it always helps with positive thinking.  If I cut my arm off, and I think positive about it not bleeding, well guess what, it is going to bleed very profusely.  There is nothing wrong with positive thinking or visualization, yet when we let it get to the point that is all that consumes us and we are blinded to God's Word becuase it feels good, well then there is something really, really, wrong, and it is not God's Word.

 IN several of the Proverbs it does talk about one being cheerful and laughing, and one assumes that it takes postivie thinking to get to this one.

  Okay, now visuazation <sic>, unfortnately, I am out of my league here.  Personally, and personally, I think nothing is wrong with it depending on what you are visualizing.  It helps me remember more of what I read in the bible, but that is as far as I take it.

  Most of Unity's doctrines of which the Secret talks and expounds greatly upon are mostly good feeling doctrines.  You become blinded by all the "white light" philosophy.  If you wish to PM me to talk more about any of this, you are more than welcome to.

  I would always and have no problem exhorting one to think positive, but do not fall into the trap if you do, you will escape trouble or trials.

  Kat, or anyone out there, again the Scripture actual verses and chapters fail my mind.  I have a somewhat amazing memory being able to recall most of it it, but I cannot recall chapter and verses.  If you know where some of this stuff is and have time, I would really appreciate if you would post the corresponding chapters and verses.

  I hope this helps.

  Sincerely,




  Anne C. McGuire

gmik:
A cheerful heart doeth good like medicine!!!

A positive outlook on things does make it easier for people to be around you!!  Negativity saps everybody.

Also, being positive in the midst of trials shows your trust in God to work it all out.

I do think some people were "born" w/ a sunny disposition and others have to cultivate one.

Read Philllipians.  Paul is full of joy and positive outlooks.

josh:
Freeindeed & Anne,

Hey, how are you guys? I hope well… I saw this thread this morning and thought I would take a few minutes to respond if that’s ok.

Positive thinking/Visualization cannot change a situation; all it can do is change how we respond to a situation and what we learn from the situation, because having hope allows us to see possibilities and avenues of positive action that we may not see when we feel hopeless or as though all is lost.

The problem arises when positive thinking/visualization becomes an idol of the heart… the thing that we turn to or depend on rather then a product of our faith in God and our trust in Him to do what is truly right.

If someone came to me and asked… “Josh, you always seem to be so cheerful/positive even in the worst of times, how do you do it?” I surely would not say… “Well I just try to think positive about every situation and attempt to visualize a positive outcome.” I would not do this because I would be taking the credit for something only God can do and provide. I instead would answer in a manner similar to this: “

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
8: Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me;
9: but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10: For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

I would answer in this way because I believe the words of Christ, speaking through the apostles in His word:

James 1:2-4
2: Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials,
3: for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
4: And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Romans 5:1-5
1: Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2: Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God.
3: More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
4: and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
5: and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.

For those of us who strive to make our election sure, we can keep a positive attitude because we have hope in knowing these words of Paul:

Romans 8:18
18: I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Hope this helps.

Grace and Peace.
Josh

PKnowler:

--- Quote from: In Medias Res on February 21, 2007, 02:30:15 PM ---
Positive thinking/Visualization cannot change a situation; all it can do is change how we respond to a situation and what we learn from the situation, because having hope allows us to see possibilities and avenues of positive action that we may not see when we feel hopeless or as though all is lost.
--- End quote ---

Josh I love what you wrote. That was very well said and edifying! In this first part you acknowledge that while positive thinking/Visualization, I prefer being optimistic, is not what changes our circumstances but it changes how we respond to our situation which allows us to see possibilities and avenues of positive action that we wouldn't see if we were negative.

So there is value in how we think and how it manifest in our life. Sometimes we have to reckon something to be so even if we can't feel it though because God said it. Let God be true and every man a liar. (including ourself and our negative thoughts.)


--- Quote from: In Medias Res on February 21, 2007, 02:30:15 PM ---
The problem arises when positive thinking/visualization becomes an idol of the heart… the thing that we turn to or depend on rather then a product of our faith in God and our trust in Him to do what is truly right.
--- End quote ---

I agree with you. We need to put our hope in God not in our thoughts!


--- Quote from: In Medias Res on February 21, 2007, 02:30:15 PM ---If someone came to me and asked… “Josh, you always seem to be so cheerful/positive even in the worst of times, how do you do it?” I surely would not say… “Well I just try to think positive about every situation and attempt to visualize a positive outcome.” I would not do this because I would be taking the credit for something only God can do and provide. I instead would answer in a manner similar to this: “

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
8: Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me;
9: but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10: For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

I would answer in this way because I believe the words of Christ, speaking through the apostles in His word:

James 1:2-4
2: Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials,
3: for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
4: And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Romans 5:1-5
1: Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2: Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God.
3: More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
4: and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
5: and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.

For those of us who strive to make our election sure, we can keep a positive attitude because we have hope in knowing these words of Paul:

Romans 8:18
18: I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Hope this helps.

Grace and Peace.
Josh

--- End quote ---

Thank you for those scriptures Josh! They bring back the spiritual peace and joy that has eluding me lately.
I am reminded of how Romans 8:18 helped me through one of the hardest times in my life. It would do me well to contemplate on those scriptures. What wonderful and precious promises we have in the word. Even greater is Christ in us the hope of Glory. Col 1:27

Bless You!  :)
~Paula
   

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