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Consistent Building

April 22, 2008 by zgardener

We are all familiar with the old saying “One step forward and two steps back”. When we indulge negative thoughts, we are engaging in just such a activity. But reality cries out” Hey, only a fool wearing rose colored glasses reacts positively to bad news”. Refusing to harbor negative thoughts is not the same as refusing to accept reality. Rather, It is choosing how we will react to a situation. So we must (and do) choose between reactions that continue to build or those which tear down that which you have built. Negative thinking really is demonstrating lack of faith. It is counterproductive, blinding and crippling. Positive thinking puts our faith to work and it enhances, enlightens and enables us to build a life that is joyful, productive and secure. Or as the once popular song says, “Don’t worry, be happy.” It is more than a song title, it is God’s will.

Moving forward,
Z Gardener

Consistent Building

            …be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…(Romans 12:2).

 
This is Paul’s admonition.
 
Many people understand this in principle, but they fail to demonstrate because they do not carry it out logically in practice. During prayer, they carefully build up the new mental structure, but as soon as their time of prayer is over, instead of faithfully preserving that structure intact they promptly knock it down again by negative thinking. Obviously, a bricklayer could work hard in this fashion year after year without ever accomplishing anything.
 
If you are failing to demonstrate, it is probably due to the same cause—building followed by wrecking. We are transformed by the renewing of our minds.

 

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Flee Desolation

April 22, 2008 by zgardener

When we fully grasp that indulging any negative thought is harmful to our hearts, our minds and our souls, we will find a way to eliminate them from our lives. “Whoso readeth, let him undesrstand”.  We must treat negative thoughts as if they have a warning label like those on a toxic substance. They are poisonous and harmful to our bodies as well as our relationship with God, ourselves and those around us. They are the equivalent of dangerous chemicals and in fact cause our own bodies to inject harmful substances into our own bloodstream. If bottled they would have a warning label “harmful to human beings”. More importantly, they block our relationship with God, poison our spiritual health and stunt our spiritual growth.
The good news is that there is an antidote to this poison readily available to every human. If it were bottled the label would read, “When afflicted by negative thoughts, immediately take two doses of God.” Turning your thoughts to God is the anti venom. If taken immediately, it works whether the negative thought is the West Nile virus equivalent or just another mosquito bite. If taken daily, it also works as a vaccine to innoculate yourself from negative thoughts.
Reading the labels,
Z Gardener

 

 

 

Flee Desolation
            The moment you catch yourself thinking a negative thought, you should reject it instantly. Do not stop to say “good-by” to the error but immediately switch your attention to the presence of God. Indeed, we may say that when error presents itself to consciousness, the first five seconds are golden.  

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On Faith

April 20, 2008 by zgardener

Faith is belief in something unseen. A clear path and sure footing requires little faith. When you can see where the road leads and it appears safe and dependable, you don’t have to accept the unseen to proceed. It is when we can’t see the trail and the outcome is hidden that faith is required. True faith is manifested in action taken with no guarantees, no security and no insurance.  Act on faith and God will handle the rest  But remember, many times a leap of faith initially feels like falling off a cliff.

Free falling,

Z Gardener

Priming the Pump
            An Understanding faith is the life prayer. It is a great mistake, however, to struggle to produce a lively faith within yourself. That can only end in failure. The thing to do is to act as though you had faith. Act out what you wish to demonstrate, and you will be expressing true faith. This is the right use of the will.

 
…Verily I say unto you, if ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea, it shall be done (Matthew 21:21).
 
This statement of Jesus is perhaps the most tremendous spiritual pronouncement ever made. Jesus knew the law of faith and proved it many times. We shall move mountains when we are willing to believe that we can, and then not only will mountains be moved, but the whole planet will be redeemed and re-formed according to the Pattern in the Mount.

 

 

 

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