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Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry.
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We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in your life.
Thank you, Father, that we're here and in your love. Amen. So how's your outlook on life today? Did you get up this morning ready to embrace the day? I believe that you did. But you know, there's too many people that allow their circumstance to dictate their attitude. They don't even realize that their attitude is a choice that they make every single day.
See, the Bible tells us to consistently and constantly put on this fresh new mental attitude. See, we choose the way we see life. We can either look at what's good in life and decide to be grateful about that, or we can look at what didn't work out and how things didn't go our way and allow it to give us a negative perspective on life.
We've all heard that saying, the glass half full or the glass half empty. You see, that saying is so timeless because it makes such an amazing point. See, the water in the glass is the same amount. It's just how one chooses to see the water that makes all the difference in the world. I know this girl that kind of always had a bend towards negative.
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Chapter 2: What is the importance of perspective in living an extraordinary life?
You could ask her, how are you doing today? And it was almost funny. You could predict she was going to start telling you the things that were going wrong in her life. One day she said, oh, I was late to work. I had to take my children to the doctor. The doctor didn't open till nine o'clock. She said, now I have to stay late at the office because there's so much work for me to do.
And you know, you're listening to this and it almost makes you grin because you're thinking you're kidding, right? Then she goes on to say, my house is a disaster when I get home late from work.
Chapter 3: How can our circumstances influence our attitude?
My husband doesn't know how to work the vacuum cleaner, he doesn't know how to work the dishwasher, on and on. And you know, when you listen to this, you realize, you know what, she's probably got a pretty good husband. In fact, I know her husband, and he's a good man. He has a good job, he works hard, he loves to take the kids out on Saturdays, and she can have the whole house to herself.
But instead of looking at the richness in her life, she chooses to look at the negative. And when you begin to focus on the negative, you know what you see? More negative. And when you see this negative, it's like swimming against the current. It's just a struggle. It's difficult and it's hard. I believe that we need to learn how to manage our thoughts.
We need to learn how to rearrange our thoughts so that we can literally see what we have and then enjoy what we have. The other day, I walked past one room in my house. It's my living room. And sometimes when I go in there, I think, I don't like the way this room looks. In fact, I thought, I wish I could just get rid of all this furniture and start over.
Chapter 4: What does the Bible say about maintaining a positive mindset?
That would be so amazing. I found myself walking past the room several times, you know, as the days went on. And looking in there and having just a really negative attitude towards that room. Almost like, ugh. And then I realized, I'm not going to be getting any new furniture anytime soon, so I better just go in there and rearrange the furniture.
So I began shifting the furniture, putting towels under the legs of the couch. How many of you women done pulling that couch, scooting everything around? You know, by the time I finally finished, I stepped back and I looked at that room and I thought, I like this room. This looks really good. I went and got myself a cup of tea, sat on the couch.
I thought, I've never seen that piece of furniture from that perspective. That really looks good, the way that curves around there. You see, I was able to have a fresh new attitude about that room. I was able to see it differently because I rearranged it. And just the way I rearranged my furniture, we need to rearrange our thoughts.
We need to push our thoughts around so our thoughts don't push us around. You know, when you get down and discouraged, you need to recognize what it is. And you need to stop and think, what am I thinking about? And I think oftentimes we need to rearrange our thoughts in simple ways. One, we need to be grateful, but sometimes we just need to change the atmosphere that we're in.
Have you ever been working in the office and you're tired and you think, you know what, I just need a break. Maybe you need to walk outside and begin to look at the trees and the sunshine and the sky and the buds on the flower, the texture of the bark, and begin to just say, isn't that beautiful what God has created? To just stop and think about something differently.
You see, I believe sometimes if we'll simply just change our routine, Maybe there's some things that we're doing that we need to not be doing anymore. A friend of mine said that every day she would go out to lunch with the same group of people. And she loved her friends and all, but when she got back to work, it was just like, oh man, I've got half a day to go. She made this conscious decision.
She said, you know, I don't like the way I'm feeling about my job, how I'm just being so mundane about it. She said, I'm going to choose a few new people to go to lunch with. So she looked around her office and she asked some different people to go to lunch with her. In fact, she got a new little group.
And she said, I had so much fun just getting in a new group of people, listening to their ideas, their jokes, the way they were. She said, I came back to work. And she said, I had a new perspective. I was ready to tackle that day. It was so refreshing. You see, sometimes we just need to get a new outlook on what we already have. I heard about this man who was really down.
He was really discouraged. He went to one of his pastors at the church and he told him, he said, my life is just, I just don't have anything good going on. My life is just a wreck. The pastor said, come on into my office and let's just sit down and talk a little bit. the pastor pulled out this legal pad of paper. He drew a line down the center of it, and he said, let's take this little test.
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Chapter 5: How can we learn to manage and rearrange our thoughts?
He's an awesome God. Every day, we can live discouraged, angry, depressed, defeated. Is it possible to turn these negatives into an outlook filled with purpose, happiness, and joy?
Every day we make choices, how we see ourselves, how we respond to challenges, how we approach what's in front of us. I've written a devotional called Today I Choose, Devotions for a Better Life. It's designed to help you make those choices on purpose, to choose faith over fear, peace over frustration, and kindness over offense.
Each day is filled with scripture and practical encouragement to help you live with confidence and victory. You can't wait to see what kind of day it's gonna be. You have to decide ahead of time. When you do, you can step into a more blessed, fulfilled life. I'd love to send you a copy.
As our way of saying thank you for your gift of any amount, we would like to send you a copy of Today I Choose, Devotions for a Better Life. Every day begins with a choice, and this inspiring book is packed with powerful devotional truths that will help you in the specific challenges you face in life, including...
Today I choose to turn down the noise, to believe what I cannot see, to be happy, to trust God's timing. They will transform your attitude, your outlook, your entire day. As you embrace these biblical principles, you'll see problems dissolve, hope restored, mountains move, Choose the joy and happiness God has chosen for you.
Be sure to request your copy of Today I Choose, Devotions for a Better Life, available this month by simply visiting us at joelostein.com or call 888-567-JOEL. Call or click anytime, 24 hours a day.
When you make choices based on what God says about you, you're going to live happier, have more peace, and you'll be a bigger blessing to others. Thanks so much for being with us today. Victoria and I pray for you and your family every day. We sure appreciate your prayer and support. Your generosity helps us take this message to people around the world.
A special thank you to our Champion of Hope partners for all you do to make the ministry possible. And until we meet again, may the Lord bless you and keep you.
Be sure to request your copy of Today I Choose, Devotions for a Better Life, available this month by simply visiting us at joelostein.com or call 888-567-JOEL. Call or click anytime, 24 hours a day. You can also receive the Today I Choose to Rejoice Signature Edition Art Print, created to encourage faith and purpose-filled living.
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