It can be encouraging, uplifting and simply a joy to recall those wonderful experiences in our lives, or even the more difficult ones as we recall the victories that followed.

We also considered ways in which a positive memory could turn negative. This can happen especially if you are going through a more barren phase of live right now and so you end up wishing for the good old days.

Memories are not for wishing:
This day dreaming and wishing is certainly not an encouraging state of mind. In fact it could easily lead to despondency and depression. Don’t do that, it is not worth it.

Besides your present situation is designed to lead to you a GREATER victory than you have ever experienced before, and so lift you up to a higher plane in life!

So if this is where you are today, keep your eyes on your goals and your faith strong.

Look at the example of Jesus Himself, as we find in Hebrews 12:2

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Note that Jesus did not look behind or even at the present difficulties. His eyes were firmly fixed on his main goals, the reason for what He was going through now.

Now what about those negative memories? You know, the ones you really don’t want to think about.

I know you don’t want to hear this, but you yet you do because you want to be free! The reason those memories are still so painful is that you have not yet forgiven the person or people involved.

That’s right, if the pain is still there, you have not completely forgiven those involved. And remember, you were involved in some way too. So often it is easier to forgive others than to forgive ourselves right?

Top three facts about lack of forgiveness:

Lack of forgiveness can be a very heavy burden in your life. It is an unseen burden, but it is very heavy.

Lack of forgiveness is also a poison. It will affect all of your present relationships sooner or later.

Why? Because when you have not completely forgiven, your mind is open to the trap of falling into the dramas of resentment and vengeance. You know, those dramas that involve what you would like to do (if it were legal) to that person to get even.

There is also a confusion between forgiveness and trust. Many folk are afraid to forgive because they are afraid to trust that person again.

Well here’s some good news. Forgiveness has nothing to do with trust.

• Trust is earned.
• Forgiveness is a decision. To forgive is to release!

Yes that is right, when you decide to forgive a person you release them from your mind. No more negative dramas in your mind that keep dragging you into negative land, depression and resentment. You are free!

The past relationship you had with that person will never be the same.
Now you are free to think clearly and positively. You are also free to decide to rebuild (if the other person of course decides they want to re-earn your trust, and proves it) and to what level.

If the other person is a negative leech, of course you are not going to spend time listening to them, let alone building a relationship with them.

Surround yourself with positive, faith filled people who’s lives will always be challenging you to climb higher and achieve more in life.

Above all, these people will inspire you to run your race of life as a champion who’s goal is to win!

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Does this mean that every single word you speak or think actually affects your life? YES.

Your words affect your faith and consequently they affect your present mood and emotional state. Consequently they set the direction for your future.

Your words are powerful! They are seeds. Remember that Jesus one of the Parables that Jesus taught was the Parable of the Sower.

In the interpretation of this parable Jesus likened the seed to the Word. Yes it was the Word of God He was referring to, but we also need to remember:

• We are created in His likeness.
• God used His Words to create this world.

God uses words to create and He entrusted us with this same power. This is a part of being created in His image.

The question is: What are YOUR words doing?

• Do your words bless those around you as well as your life?
• Do your words motivate or discourage?
• Do your words build faith or inspire fear?
• Do your words inspire or dishearten?
• Do your words bring freedom or bondage?

So here is another question: What do you REALLY want to do?

• Bless or curse?
• Motivate or discourage?
• Build faith or bring fear?
• Inspire or dishearten?
• Set free or cause bondage?

I am sure that you want to be a blessing to others as well as build a positive future for yourself right? So how can you be sure that this is really what you are doing?

First: THINK! Yes think before you speak. At times we are so quick to say something without even thinking right? And then comes the regrets.

Second: SOW good seeds. Make sure that you are sowing GOOD and POSITIVE thoughts into your mind every day.
Be disciplined to spend time every day reading the Bible, motivational and inspiration books.
Sow good seeds (words) into your mind EVERY DAY.

Third: Be alert to what you are hearing, reading, watching.
Be alert to every impression that comes your way and deliberately filter it.

A Challenge:
Are you willing to stop and think before you open your mouth?
Are you willing to take the time to sow good seeds into your mind every day?
Are you willing to take the time to be alert to and filter everything that comes your way?

I am sure that you are willing to do these things because I know that you are a champion. You can detect champions by the way they speak.

Can those around you detect that you are a champion?

Recommended resources: Download a free set of mp3s and mp4s from John Di Lemme that will challenge you AND show you how to take control of your life.

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David was just a young lad when he was faced with this challenge, yet he was able to do what the entire army of Israel put together could not.

In order to REALLY appreciate his secret, lets reconsider exactly what David was facing. David was sent by his father to take some lunch to his brothers. His brothers were out fighting the Philistines along with the rest of the army of Israel.

In reality David’s brothers and the whole army of Israel were paralized with fear as this giant, Goliath was terrorizing them with his threats. “Who will come and face me?” challenged Goliath, as he scoffed at their fear.

But David did not react with fear. He was indignant! Who did this giant think he was? David recognized that it was his God that Goliath was challenging, not the army of Israel.

Here is Davids secret. It was his focus.

David was focused on the greatness of His God, not on the greatness of the giant. Any “greatness” Goliath had could not measure up to the greatness of David’s God.

In fact David’s first reaction was: Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should challenge the army of the living God?”

In today’s language he would have said: “who does this guy think he is”? His brothers did not like this. They accused him of being “overconfident and headstrong”.

Now there is a second dimension to David’s secret.

He did not simply “switch over” to focusing on the greatness of his God when he heard the giant’s threats.

David’s daily habits:
David’s daily HABITS included focusing on the greatness of His God and the confidence that he had in God.

Consequently he was always confident in his ability to conquer whatever obstacle came along. So much so that his brothers saw him as “overconfident (or proud) and headstrong”.

Here is what David said to Saul: (1 Samuel 17:34-37)

Saul was desperate and so he let David go and face the giant. Would David have felt at least some fear? I am sure he did, BUT his faith was stronger.

Why because his FOCUS was on his relationship with His God. He knew that he could do it, and that God would save him. from Goliath just as He saved him from the lion and the bear.

Are you tired of fighting with fear?

• Stop fighting and change your focus.
• Create a DAILY habit of setting your mind on the greatness of your God and of the abilities that He has given you.

Daily habits predict your future.

• A daily habit of focusing on faith will lead you to victory.
• A faith habit of focusing on fear will lead you to more fear and defeat.

What are your daily thinking habits? There is a powerful verse found in Isaiah 26:3 ” You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”

What does your daily thinking habit look like?

Resources:
Facing the Giants

Ephesians 1:20 (ESV)

This is the HOPE that the resurrection brings to you and me.

My prayer for YOU today is that your eyes may be opened to the fullness of what God has done for you in Christ.

1. Christ died to settle the debt of your sins. All you need to do is to believe that. No more guilt allowed!
2. He rose from the dead so you can life in the abundance of life. Take a look at John 10:10.
3. All that is left for you to do is to TRULY believe (with all of your heart, mind and soul) and receive what He has done (which you demonstrate by the way you live). Matthew 22:37-39 and Hebrews 11:6.

I will never forget an illustration that Bob Mumford gave while he was in New Zealand many years ago:

It went something like this:
Let’s suppose that someone you love very much committed a crime. You love them SO much, that you are willing to forgive them, and you want them to be forgiven because you want them to live in freedom.

However the law demands payment.

But you love them so much, and your desire is that they live life to the full, in abundance and in freedom, not in the restrictions of a jail cell.

You have a solution. You pay for their crime and go to jail in their place. Now they are free to live in abundance.

However, they don’t believe that you could do this for them. They don’t believe that their debt is paid and they continue to live in guilt and misery.

How would you feel?

This is exactly how God feels when you reject His gift of FULL salvation.

Your debt is paid. All He asks is your faith and heart commitment. (Matthew 22:37-39 and Hebrews 11:6).

Are you living in the abundant life He bought for you?

Because He lives you can live also – and in abundance (John 10:10).

What does this verse have to do with personal development? This is the first of a two part article where we will explore the answer to this question.

First: What is the biggest contamination in this world?
You might be thinking “evil of course” or “rebellion against God” or even “dishonoring God” – yes, all of these answers are true.

But the very heart of these answers is the negative words that are spoken and thought. (Take a look at Genesis 6:5).

All three of the above answers could be summed up with – Negative Words.

Second: What exactly is being conformed to this world?

A popular definition of “this world” is the material things, but in fact –

God is more interested in what you have in your HEART than what you have in your home.

To really understand this concept let’s take a look at the “normal” priorities of “this world”:
1. Self - what can I get out of living. The top priority of most people’s minds is self.
2. Negative – the most popular trend of this world is negative.

Don’t believe me? What sells more in movies, books, news, tv shows? What are the headlines that are always glaring at you from the magazine rack as you by the supermarket checkouts? Violence, scandal, gossip — negative!

What is the main topic of the conversations you hear when you approach a group of co-workers in the office, factory or restaurant? – Negative! ..

Motivational and “self development” teaching in its purest form is all about renewing your mind and training yourself
to become the champion you were born to be.

1. It is about finding the seed of your destiny that God put in your heart and then watering this seed.
2. It is about taking responsibility for the free will that God has given you and using that free will to be your best for the benefit of others around you.
3. It is all about learning to really make a difference in the lives of others. This includes learning to really put God and others first in your mind and heart.
4. It is about creating a positive mindset that will be able to contain the blessings of God. This is how you learn to walk in abundance and success.
5. It is about learning to focus on positive faith building thoughts that will attract blessings. A positive mindset has room for blessings while a negative mindset is not able to receive good things.

   This means that as long as your mindset is negative, you will be missing out on a lot of what God really wants to give you.

Remember Jesus talked about old wineskins not being able to contain the new? (Mark 2:22).

Christ centered motivational and self development teaching is all about creating the new wineskins that are able to carry the new wine.

Look for part two on Wednesday March 3rd, 2010.

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