“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things“ - Phil 4:8 (NIV).
In recent years Uganda has been producing world class athletes who have gone on to smash’s world records. In 2020 Joshua Cheptegei smashed both the 10,000 and 5,000 Km world records that had stood for years. Stephen Kiprotich has won the Olympic and London marathon. Halimah Nakayi won the 800 women’s meter gold at World Athletics Champion in 2019.
If you were to ask any of these great athlete what is the secret behind their success, top on the list will be controlling their thought pattern. Every athlete who goes into a race must start by thinking positively of himself as a winner. Positive thoughts control behavioural patterns that lead to success. For instance, successful athletes decide what they eat, force their bodies to practice even when they don’t feel like and never let themselves down with despondent thoughts. The thing about a great athlete is having will power to conquer odds which starts with positive belief in the mind.
A particularly important aspect about our thought pattern is that God has given every person the power to control what he thinks. One can decide to think of himself as a loser or a winner. The one who embraces thoughts of being a loser will lose hope of rising up and practicing for victory. Likewise those who think of themselves as winners will rise to work towards victory. Faced with difficulties they will remain upbeat because they continue to believe in victory. They do not allow worry and negative thoughts have a better part of them.
Now one thing every believer ought to know is that our minds are open fields to attack with negative thoughts. We need to protect our minds from negative thoughts because of the poisonous effect such thoughts can have on us. Just at the same time we should always be feeding our minds with positive thoughts. As the Bible says, “More than anything you guard, protect your mind, for life flows from it” (Proverbs 4: 23).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, today I surrender to you all my thoughts that they may glorify you and in turn inspire me to lead the victorious life in Christ Jesus.
Related upcoming events
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19/04/2024 - 20/04/2024 All day“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” ( Isaiah 43:19).
Just before fire was unleashed down on Sodom and Gommorah, Lot was told to pack up with his wife and two daughters and leave their homestead. Now, once out of danger, “But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt” ( Gen 19:26). Perhaps here we might pause and ask why she was bothered to look back.
Of course it could have been that old “curiosity killed a cat” mistake! Yet, it could also have been Lot’s wife was not sure where she was going and longed for her old life back. This is a common error. There was nothing stirring to look back. Just before Lot’s neighbors had attacked his house eager to rape his visitors. “They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them” ( vv 5). Was there anything worth looking back to!
The case of Lot’s wife could be anyone else’s experience. The Lord has plucked you out of some mess. You have been delivered to a new life. Yet, somehow you decide to look back, as though there was anything good and worth longing for. Sometimes it is a bitter past you have been delivered from. Other than rejoice in your new blessings you keep being drawn back!
A wise caution goes, “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly” ( Proverbs 26:11). If the Lord has just led you out of a certain mess why look back like it was much better! Instead look ahead, for “he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past” ( vv 17- 18).
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, I thank you for delivering me from the darkness of the past and I look forward to a bright new future in you, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
