The Important Of Positive Thinking
It is no secret that positive thinking can do wonders for your mental and emotional health. When you think positively, you feel better about yourself and life in general. This increased sense of well-being can have a ripple effect on all areas of your life, from your personal relationships to your professional achievements.
There is scientific evidence to support the claim that positive thinking can improve your health. Studies have shown that people who think positively are more likely to take care of their bodies and make healthy lifestyle choices. They are also more likely to recover from illness and surgery faster than those who do not have a positive outlook.
While it may seem like common sense, it is worth repeating that positive thinking does not happen overnight. It is a process that takes time and effort. But if you are committed to making changes in your life, the rewards will be well worth the effort.
As you can see, the Bible has a lot to say about positive thinking. These verses provide excellent guidance for how we should think about our lives and the world around us. If you are struggling with negative thoughts, take heart and know that you can change the way you think. With Gods help, anything is possible!
What Does The Bible Teach About Positivity
The Bible reveals that positivity isnt an end in itself. Its a relationship with God that will make it possible for you to enjoy positivity. In order to truly be a positive person, you must first be empowered by connecting to God, who is the source of all that is positive. Pursuing God leads to finding God, because God will meet you where you are. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart, God promises in Jeremiah 29:13. The first four verses about positivity in the section above all relate to how pursuing a relationship with God leads to positive outcomes. They reveal that God wants to generously give you blessings. They also show joy which is what fuels positivity comes from being in a relationship with God.
In your quest for positivity, its important to distinguish between happiness and joy. Happiness is a temporary feeling based on good circumstances. Since circumstances constantly change, happiness can be elusive. Joy is much more reliable. Joy transcends circumstances because its based on a relationship with God. You can experience joy in any type of circumstances because God is always with you in the middle of them. As you trust God, he will help you with whatever you need, including encouragement and provision. Unlike happiness, joy is available to you in even the most challenging situations of your life.
Do Our Words Defile Us
Matt. 15:11. What comes out of the mouth defiles a man.
The contrast Jesus is making here is between 1) what goes into the mouth and where it ends up, and 2) what comes out of the mouth and where it comes from. It is not the mere words that defile us, but the unclean heart. The words are only the fruit of what is in the heart .
Actually, when Jesus spoke those words, he was not responding to a negative confession made by the Pharisees, but rather their traditional belief that failure to wash hands before eating caused defilement. So He had no intentions of giving a discourse on positive confession. Jesus emphasis is on what is already in the heart, which will naturally come out as words. He was simply telling them that they rejected him because of the uncleanness of their hearts, and no amount of hand washing was going to make them clean. No positive confession here.
Also Check: Do Not Dwell In The Past Bible
The Essential Ingredient For Happiness Today Is To Have A Relationship With God Today
1Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no delight in them”
Happiness is not based on how well you live or how much you have, it is based on how well you obey and how much of God’s will is being achieved in your lives. You cannot always have the home, education, mate and situation you desire in your life today. However, you can have God in your life today and it is this ingredient that generates happiness in life. God’s love and will are the only things you can legitimately desire more and more of without harming yourself.
Solomon mentions two things that keep us from enjoying the blessings of each day:
- We keep our eyes on tomorrow rather than today.
- We keep our hope focused on ourselves and things instead of completely relying on God for our well being and needs each day.
Verses About Adding Joy
“The Lord has done it this very day let us rejoice today and be glad.”
Ephesians 4:3132“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”
John 14:27“I am leaving you with a giftpeace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So dont be troubled or afraid.”
Ephesians 4:2124“If indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”
Recommended Reading: Rhema Correspondence Bible School
Scripture To Grow Self
Now lets look at Gods word and see what He has to say about having self-esteem and confidence in these inspirational Bible verses about confidence.
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
Romans 12:3
But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.
Jeremiah 17:7
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9
For you created my inmost being you knit me together in my mothers womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139:1314
Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.
Proverbs 3:25-26
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in Gods sight.
1 Peter 3:3-4
In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Ephesians 3:12
Do We Overcome By The Word Of Our Confession
Rev. 12:11. They overcame by the word of their testimony.
Some have advocated that the word testimony in Rev 12:11 really means confession, even though they do not have the support of any major Bible translation. Does this verse teach that we overcome the devil by positive confession?
The Greek word for testimony, means testimony, report or witness. It is used 9 times in the book of Revelation . In every single case, with only one exception, it is referring to the testimony of Jesus which all believers have that is the public confession or declaration that Jesus is our Lord. In Rev 15:5 , whatever the Tabernacle of the Testimony is, it is certainly not positive confession .
Tribulation saints overcome the devil by the testimony of Jesus which they hold and preach, because in so doing, they never succumb to the mark of the beast and never fall under his power. Even though they the Beast kills them, they overcome because they go to be with Christ. May we hold fast to the testimony of Jesus.
You May Like: Do Not Be Afraid Bible Verses 365
Saul And Jonathanin Life They Were Loved And Admired And In Death They Were Not Parted
Saul and Jonathan were as different as night from day yet both were admired in their day. Jesus is far greater than these men and worthy of all our admiration. We can center our thoughts to feast on the goodness of Christ. The power of God opens up our minds to His great sacrifice and love that leads us into eternal life.
Question to Ponder: How does my life reflect my admiration for Jesus Christ?
Meditate on Revelation 4:11
Now The Berean Jews Were Of More Noble Character Than Those In Thessalonica
The nobility of the Bereans was demonstrated through their diligence in searching the scriptures. A noble mind is open to exploring Gods word rather than clinging to mans traditions. Believers who think noble thoughts tend to resist the urge of prejudicial thinking about others. The power of God generates an openness and approachable attitude about Gods word.
Question to Ponder: How can I train my mind towards noble thoughts?
Meditate on Colossians 3:2
The power in positive thinking for the believer is rooted in what we believe about God and His word.
Recommended Reading: Feeling Lonely Bible
Instead Of Hoarding Try Giving
2Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.
Remember, this advice is for those who have faith in God. Trying to save, hoard and protect yourself by yourself at the expense of charity or good works will not work. At best you end up having money, but you have no peace or joy, and may lose it all anyways.
Solomon reminds us of a spiritual rule of thumb – the more you give, the more you get. Jesus reminds us that it is more blessed to give than to receive . This is because there is more satisfaction and potential for personal blessings for one who is a generous giver than there is for the one who hoards these things.
For As High As The Heavens Are Above The Earth So Great Is His Love For Those Who Fear Him As Far As The East Is From The West So Far Has He Removed Our Transgressions From Us
One reason Jesus followers often struggle with negative self-talk is because of the guilt they feel for behaviors that they regret, whether its doing something they know they shouldnt or not doing something they think they should be doing. Many condemn themselves thinking that theyre not doing enough. Psalm 103 is just one of a myriad of scriptures that reassure us that God is not playing that game. He is not holding our sins against us or expecting us to meet a certain quota. There is no greater reason to celebrate and be of good cheer than the fact that we are forgiven and loved by God.
Also Check: What Does The Bible Say About Mary Magdalene
Verses About Knowing Goodness
Philippians 4:8“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
Matthew 15:11“Its not what goes into your mouth that defiles you you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.”
Romans 8:2831“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called those he called, he also justified those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Proverbs 4:23“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
1 Corinthians 10:31“When you eat or drink or do anything else, always do it to honor God.”
Psalm 27:13“Yet I am confident I will see the Lords goodness while I am here in the land of the living.”
Where Real Happiness And Change Is Found
Those who follow the New Thought movement believe they will find happiness, success, and fulfillment. Such people need to realize that true happiness and change only comes through Jesus Christ, not the power of positive thoughts. Only He can provide lasting joy and fulfillment.
By believing in Jesus death and resurrection to save a person from their guilt, shame, and wrong deeds, a person is made new by being born again by the Holy Spirit .
At that time, a person is transformed: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! . Real and lasting change is possible only through faith in Jesus and by the work of the Holy Spirit.
Furthermore, Jesus does want His believers to find joy and to stay focused on positive thoughts heavenly ones based on eternity . He wants His followers not to worry, but to instead stay focused on and seek the Kingdom of God .
This does not mean that life as a follower of Jesus is easy, for it involves dying to self and can involve persecution . However, such a life lived for the Savior is the only way to true fulfillment and eternal joy .
You May Like: What Does The Bible Say About Dreams Of Snakes
Power Of Positive Thinking
The Bible clearly leads us in the direction of positive thinking in our Christian walk. As believers, we have the power of God to discipline our thinking. It takes effort to train the mind to lean towards hope in the midst of suffering yet its worth it when the fruit of godliness springs up within your soul.
You Are As Beautiful As Tirzah My Darling As Lovely As Jerusalem As Majestic As Troops With Banners
Sometimes when were assailed by the darkness, we need to train our minds to think on those things that are lovely. Pleasant memories of the faithfulness of God encourages us to focus on the beauty of what life has to offer even in trials. The power of God prompts us to offer praises of thankfulness.
Question to Ponder: What am I thankful for on a regular basis?
Meditate on 1 Chronicles 16:34
Don’t Miss: 365 Bible Verses About Fear
Bible Verses For Positive Thinking
- M.P.A., University of IllinoisSpringfield
- B.S., Psychology and Criminal Justice, Illinois State University.
In our Christian faith, we can do an awful lot of talking about sad or depressing things like sin and pain. However, there are a lot of Bible verses that talk about positive thinking or can serve to lift us up. Sometimes we just need that little boost, especially when we’re traversing through times of trouble in our lives. Following each verse is an abbreviation for which Bible translation the verse comes from, such as New Living Translation , New International Version , New King James Version , the Contemporary English Version , or the New American Standard Bible .
Those Who Have Served Well Gain An Excellent Standing And Great Assurance In Their Faith In Christ Jesus
To focus on the excellence of grace can captivate our minds and release us from the perils of negative thinking. Grace gives us the strength to move forward when we want to give up. The power of God activates our faith to think on the endless possibilities of grace through Christ.
Question to Ponder: How is grace been revealed in my life today?
Meditate on 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Read Also: Do Not Fear Bible Verses 365
Life And Death In The Tongue
Prov. 18:21. Death and life are in the power of the tongue.
This verse is harder to interpret than the previous one because it does not really have a context. Proponents of positive thinking usually interpret it as follows: if you speak life you will get life, if you speak sickness you will get sickness, etc. But is that the only possible interpretation? Is there another interpretation that makes more sense in the broader context of Proverbs? Look at a few other verses right there in Proverbs 18:
6) A fools lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for blows.7) A fools mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.8) The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, and they go down into the inmost body.
Verses About God Giving Relief
Matthew 11:2830“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.’
1 John 1:9“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”
Nahum 1:7“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.”
Don’t Miss: What Order Should You Read The Bible