The key to life is to build in the mental equivalents of what you want, and to expunge the equivalents of what you do not want. You build in the mental equivalents by thinking with clearness or definiteness, and interest. Remember clarity and interest; those are the two poles. If you want to be healthy, happy, prosperous, doing a constructive work, having a continuous understanding of God, you think, feel, and get interested in these ends. What we call “feeling” in connection with thought is really interest. Ninety-nine times in a hundred the reason why Christians do not demonstrate is that they lack feeling in their desires or prayers.
How are you going to expunge the wrong mental equivalents? Suppose you have a mental equivalent of resentment, or of unemployment, or of criticism, or of not understanding God. The only way to expunge a wrong mental equivalent is to supply the opposite. The right thought automatically expunges the wrong thought. If you say: “I am not going to think resentment any more,” what are you thinking about except resentment? The key to the management of your thinking, and therefore, the key to the management of your destiny, is to substitute an affirmative thought for a negative thought.
The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me….(Psalm 138:8).
Mental discipline is one of the toughest assignments we receive from the Almighty. It requires infinitely more effort, thought and control than physical discipline. It is much easier to abstain from bad behavior than to refrain from bad thoughts. But, remember, as within so also without. Those who effectively manage their thoughts will find that same discipline manifesting itself in their lives. They will discover that the key to living in the garden God created for us is to create that garden within first, then they can live in that garden in the physical world regardless of the circumstances.
If something is blocking or hampering our mental processes, then it should be considered as a high priority for assessment and corrective action. Things such as hate, fear guilt and resentment can become barriers to effective mental discipline. Medical conditions such a depression, mental conditions and mental illness can also interfere with or alter our information processing capabilities. Such medical conditions may need the assistance of qualified medical advice and treatment. Whatever the cause or the correction needed, it is essential that we all have and demonstrate mental discipline if we are to find the peace, joy and gladness God has promised to us.
Seeking discipline,
Z gardener
Good Morning Garden 
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