Saturday, February 16, 2013

Five Bible Quotes on Being Positive

1. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

This passage in Thessalonians instructs us to fervent about our faith and our spirituality. It's not enough to do it passingly or even frequently. We should act in our spirituality at all times! Rejoice always! We ought to spend every moment thanking God for how wonderful everything is, even if you don't feel it at the time. Pray without ceasing and give thanks all the time. This can be an internal voice thanking God for specific moments or happenings, or it can just be a mindset of being thankful for things like family, friends, the beauty of the world, and so on. We are told these commands are God's will for us. So we must do them.

2. Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

This passage from Philippians gives us some things to meditate on in our lives. These are the things we should keep close to our heart, instead of constantly discussing the bad in the world. There is much evil, this is true. We could spend from now til eternity complaining about all the injustice in the world. This is not what God wants! Keep these good ideas close to you: truth, honor, justice, purity, beauty, commendable acts, excellence, and things worthy of praise. Live in the good things, train your mind to see the positive. This is what God wants.

3. Luke 10:27 And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."

Love binds the universe together, one could say. God is love, and God wants our love. Having a positive attitude is all about love. So offer love everywhere you go. Treat your neighbors well, and offer boundless love to God in all things.

4. Proverbs 17:22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

This passage from Proverbs reminds us that a joyful heart is good medicine! A joyful heart heals our souls, and it heals others around us. It gives off good vibes. It helps us increase our love. It enriches our lives.

5. Philippians 2:1-30 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ...

We know there is much encouragement in Christ, comfort in love, and joy from participating in spirituality! Knowing this, we ought to seek out that high amount of love and live within it. The passage also says be one mind. Many times in the Bible sinners are named as double-minded for their constant returns to sinning and poor ways. Be of one mind that is good. This passage also says it's important to check our motives. If we see ourselves doing something from rivalry or jealousy, we ought not to do it at all. Be humble, and consider others greater than ourselves. Christ was very humble and so we should be. Look not only to what we want, but what other people need. We are told at the end of the passage that this mindset is a gift through Jesus Christ working in our lives. Wonderful!