Mastermind - A Look Back

Back in June, I had the privilege of sharing a three-part series entitled "Mastermind", with the overarching theme, "Change your thinking, change your life."  This morning I was revisiting that series in my mind, and I began to think just how much it impacted me and the way I think.  

In the past, I have been quick to many times judge a situation based on my current circumstances.  If life is going good, its easy for me to think positive thoughts, dream big dreams, and explore grand possiblities of the future to come.  But when things are tough, when money is tight, when life is handing out lemons instead of birthday presents, I have generally pursue a more negative line of thinking.  But since the Mastermind Series, I have really been striving to reframe my thinking.  To see the good in all situations, even if the good is something that I'm learning never to do again.  

I'm not naive.  This approach to life is hard.  It counters every line of thinking that we've been taught.  Yet as hard as it is, it is God's approach to our life.  Whatsoever things are good, lovely, praiseworthy, etc., think on these things.  As a man thinks in his heart so is he.  Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  All things work together for the good to them that love God and called according to his purpose.  So as we face life, how we respond is directly related to how we think, and if we are striving to shape our thinking positively, positive things should flow out of us.

I haven't got it licked yet.  Do you?  Everyday is not perfect, but I'm better today than I was and each day I'm striving to be better.  As a way of reminder, I encourage you to make declarations over your life.  Declare God's Word and God's plan for you.  This is what I declare each day as I begin my day.  If you don't have any personal declarations, feel free to use this one OR edit and make it your own:

• Jesus is first in my life.
• I exist to serve and glorify Him.
• I love my wife and I will lay down my life to serve her.
• I love my children and I will do everything I can to show them how to love God and to serve him with their whole hearts.
• I will nurture, equip, train and empower them to do more for the Kingdom than they thought possible.
• I am a recipient of God's amazing grace.  My past is redeemed and I walk in renewed mercies everyday.  As a result I will extend grace and mercy to others.
• I love people and I believe the best about them.
• I am disciplined.  Christ in me is stronger that the wrong desires in me.
• I am growing closer to Jesus everyday.
• Because of Christ, my family is closer, my body is stronger, my faith is deeper, my leadership is sharper.
• I am creative, innovative, driven, focused and blessed because the Spirit of God dwells within me.
• I develop leaders.  That not something I do; it's who I am.
• Pain in my friend.  I rejoice in suffering because Jesus suffered for me.
• I bring my best and then some.  It's what I bring after I bring my best that makes the difference and I declare, the world will be different and better because I SERVED JESUS TODAY.

I hope you have a great day, and continuing striving to MASTER YOUR MIND.