We Believe

January 12

The person who sends out positive thoughts activates the world around him positively and draws back to himself positive results. Norman Vincent Peale

Norman Vincent Peale was a famous preacher when I was a child. He was Protestant and my family was Catholic so I didn't have much exposure to him, but I knew he was famous and I knew he interacted a lot with people of various religious persuasions. Perhaps that was because he was noted more for his words of wisdom than for his doctrine.

In any case, this particular thought tracks with the words of the Bible that say, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he,” Proverbs 23:7. Our thoughts and the words we speak can impact those around us for ill or for good, depending upon the nature of the words. We must have a mindset that is so fixed on Jesus, a faith that is so anchored in Him, a heart that is so filled with His love, that even when we are shaken, the only thing that can possibly spill out of us is kindness. It may seem impossible to exude warmth, tenderness, understanding, hopefulness, joy when others are negative in the words and the mindset they project, but it is within our ability to achieve this Godly end when we are focused, not on those around us, but on Jesus.

That's the key--eyes on Jesus. He says it this way, "Without Me, you can do nothing,” John 15:5. Paul echoes the sentiment when he says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," Philippians 4:13. In other words, we must accomplish negative things--anger, frustration, disappointment, joylessness, futility--on our own; but JESUS will help us when we strive to accomplish, "...whatsoever things are good, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report…” Philippians 4:8. May we take Him at His word. May we let HIM help us to do and to be all that HE desires for us.

If we truly know Jesus, we know we are more dearly loved than words can say. We know we can trust HIM to help us to do and to be all that will result in that perfect best He desires for us. We believe and are sure that WE CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS US, as per Philippians 413. We believe and are sure that JESUS WILL NEVER FAIL OR FORSAKE US (Hebrews 13:5). We believe and are sure that WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH CHRIST WHO LOVES US (Romans 8:37). We believe!