Positive Thinking
A glimpse of beauty that reframes the whole room—like Christ reframes the mind yielded to Him.
Ray Stedman points out a subtle but deeply disruptive pattern in our lives: pessimistic thinking rooted in negative imagination. We often let anxiety over what might happen rob us of peace in the present. By mentally scripting outcomes based on fear or frustration, we become tangled in scenarios that haven't even occurred—and often never will.
Stedman shares the humorous but telling story of a man who, needing to borrow a jack, works himself into such a state of imagined rejection that by the time he reaches his neighbor’s door, he’s furious—without ever having heard a single word from the neighbor. It’s an example of how our minds can lead us into relational confusion and emotional chaos simply because we’ve failed to do what Philippians 4:8 invites: Set your mind on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.
But Stedman makes a deeper point: positive thinking in itself is not enough. Positive thinking must be preceded by a positive life—and that life is Christ Himself, indwelling the believer. Jesus didn’t come to tweak our religious thoughts or polish our doctrines—He came to be our life, impacting how we live, think, speak, and respond in the everyday moments. The secret to peace isn’t mental tricks or reframing—it’s a Person living His life in and through us.
Personalized Journal Entry
In the Voice of the Holy Spirit, Through Scripture
You were never meant to navigate life by your own inner narratives. My peace guards your heart and your mind when you let your requests be made known with thanksgiving. But more than just unburdening your worries, I invite you into a new pattern of thinking—anchored in Me.
Set your mind on what is true. Not imagined fears, not possible offenses, not future failures. I am the truth. Let Me renew your mind with things that are noble and right, the righteousness you already wear in Christ. Fix your thoughts on what is pure, what is lovely, what reflects the beauty of grace and the joy of redemption.
I have given you the mind of Christ. Let it be your meditation. Reject the inner scripts that stir anger, judgment, or shame. You are My workmanship. When you dwell on what is worthy of praise, you align with My presence already in you. My Spirit brings clarity, not confusion; peace, not agitation.
As you think in Me, so you will live in Me. My peace will rule your heart. I will keep you in perfect peace when your mind stays fixed on Me, because you trust Me. Don't let anxious imagination rehearse a story I never wrote. Trust My authorship. You’re not just called to positive thinking—you’re called to resurrection living.
Philippians 4:6–9, 1 Corinthians 2:16, Ephesians 2:10, Isaiah 26:3
My Prayer
Father, I thank You that You have already given me the mind of Christ. What a joy to know that I am not left to chase peace through willpower or self-talk. I don’t need to fixate on imagined troubles or brace for battles You never planned. You have given me Your Son, and in Him I live, move, and think with clarity.
Thank You for training my thoughts to align with truth. I rest in the calm You provide—not because I suppress fear, but because I trust the reality of Your presence in me. You are the One writing each moment of my life, and Your story is not one of panic or pessimism. It’s one of praise, beauty, excellence, and peace. That’s where my thoughts belong—because that’s where You dwell.
Devotional Credit:
From Immeasurably More by Ray Stedman, March 28th entry.
Photo Credit: Image via Unsplash.com