purpose

Affirmation Creates Power by Orison Swett Marden – Part 3 of 3

AFFIRMATION CREATES POWER by Orison Swett Marden – Part 3 of 3

 

Part 3 of 3

Constant Affirmation to Overcome Fear and Attract Desires

Affirmation Creates PowerIf you are deficient in any quality,

you can strengthen it by constant affirmation.

If you are a coward anywhere in your nature

(and most people are),

you can strengthen courage by constantly affirming

that you are absolutely fearless, that you are courageous,

that nothing can harm you.

Reason that fear is simply the sense of danger, and

when you have perfect confidence

in the great Creator’s purpose,

when you trust it implicitly, there will be not cause for fear.

If you have convinced yourself that there is only one great cause, that the opposite must be a delusion, you will gradually lose the sense of fear and gain the courage you desire.

Every time you feel a sense of fear come over you say: “I am absolutely fearless; there is nothing to fear; fear is not a reality; it is not the truth of being. It is only the absence of courage, based upon ignorance of the great cause.”

Emerson knew the virtue of this philosophy when he said:

“Nerve us with incessant affirmation. Don’t bark against the bad, but chant the beauties of the good.”

Stoutly determine not to harbor anything in the mind which you do not wish to become real in your life.

Shun poisoned thought, ideas which depress and make you unhappy, as instinctively as you avoid physical danger of any kind. Do not entertain a discordant or an unhappy thought, or a thought of weakness and misery, but replace all these with cheerful, hopeful, optimistic thoughts.

When you feel out of sorts, blue, discourage, disheartened if you form the habit of suggesting to yourself some agreeable or pleasant subject, to dwell upon or thing about, or take up some word or idea which will suggest pleasure, happiness, and harmony, you will be surprised to see how quickly you can change the whole course of your thought, and when this is changed, the feeling will change also.

You will increase your courage and confidence, and this is half the battle. You will soon find that your environment will begin to change. Hope will brighten, you will have a healthier outlook upon life. Then thought, instead of depressing your mind, will be a perpetual tonic of encouragement, and light will soon break and drive out the darkness.

All that you dream of, all that you yearn for and long to be, will be within your reach if you have the power to affirm sufficiently strong, if you can focus your faculties with sufficient intentness on a single purpose.

It is concentration upon the thing you wish that brings it to you, whether it is health, money, or position.

Constantly affirm that which you wish, hold it persistently in the thought, concentrate all the power of your mind upon it, and when the mind is sufficiently positive and creative the desired thing will come to you as certainly as a stone will come to the earth, when left free in the air, through the attracting influence of gravitation.

You make yourself a magnet to draw the condition you wish.

*** end of part 3 of 3 ***

AFFIRMATION CREATES POWER by Orison Swett Marden

go to part 1

go to part 2

 

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Powerful Leadership – 5 Crucial Skills Required to Become a Great Leader!

Powerful Leadership – 5 Crucial Skills Required to Become a Great Leader!

Great Leaders Commit to Developing Key Skills

Great Leaders Develop Crucial SkillsPowerful leadership requires a commitment

to developing key personal skills and abilities.

Great leaders must have a driving desire

to make things happen.

If you want to be the head and not the tail,

then you must fine tune key leadership skills in order to become effective so that others will want to follow.

Some people are born with natural talents that lend themselves to becoming a great leader. But despite the fact that you might have been born with some of these talents, it still takes continual enthusiasm, drive, and experience for true development as a leader to occur.

5 Crucial Skills Needed to Become a Great Leader

1. Vision

Leaders need to know the vision of their group or organization. They must have a clear sense of purpose. Knowing the organization’s goals and objectives, how the organization works, and being able to communicate the vision to others, helps put everyone on the same page.

Leaders need to help others catch a personal vision of the big picture, so that everyone is moving in the same direction on the road to success.

2. Encouragement

Leadership is not about using harassment or fear as a driving force to get others to take action. Great leaders encourage others to accomplish the goals of the group. Encouragement is contagious and it benefits everyone when it is flowing freely.

3. Trust

Trustworthiness is vital to great leadership. Your followers must have trust and confidence in you. And if they do, they will go to great lengths for you and the group.

Strong relationships, trustworthiness, and high ethics build trust and confidence. Leaders that deal with people in a positive way, lay a foundation of strength for the group. Stronger relationships equal a stronger measure of trust and confidence in the capabilities of the leader.

4. Communication

Communication is crucial skill of a leader. You must be able to clearly communicate the goals and objectives that you are all about to undertake as an organization. A leader’s vision and plan must be clearly communicated to others in order to keep everyone on the same page.

5. Judgment

Great leaders have great judgment. If you want to grow as a leader, you must continue to improve and develop your judgment and decision making skills.

Leaders need to make wise decisions in a variety of situations. Your followers will come to rely on your judgment. Good, wise decision making is crucial to the success of a leader and the organization.

Keep in mind: In life we all eventually find ourselves in a leadership role, in some shape or form, big or small. And the Lord wants to see His children become strong leaders and He gives them instructions and tells them how they can be.

“And the LORD shall make you the head, and not the tail; and you shall be above only, and you shall not be beneath; if that you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God…to observe and to do them.”
— Deuteronomy 28:13

Conclusion: Leaders lead. Leaders have followers and you’re not much of a leader if no one is following. Being a great leader is about constantly growing, developing, and setting an example, because you are a reflection of what your followers must be. Develop these five crucial skills and demonstrate powerful leadership.

May you develop your skills to grow into a powerful, effective leader and experience much growing prosperity!

Soar higher in Him,
Brenda

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My Own Little World by Matthew West – Christian Music Video

My Own Little World by Matthew West – Christian Music Video

“My Own Little World” by Matthew West

from the album My Own Little World”

Matthew West plays his new song “My Own Little World” live on Air 1 Radio.

“My Own Little World” Song Lyrics:

In my own little world it hardly ever rains
I’ve never gone hungry, always felt safe
I got some money in my pocket, shoes on my feet
In my own little world, population: me

I try to stay awake during Sunday morning church
I throw a twenty in the plate but I never give ’til it hurts
And I turn off the news when I don’t like what I see
Yeah, it’s easy to do when it’s population: me

What if there’s a bigger picture?
What if I’m missing out?
What if there’s a greater purpose?
I could be living right now
Outside my own little world

Stopped at a red light looked out my window
I saw a cardboard sign said, “help this homeless widow”
And just above that sign was the face of a human
I thought to myself, God, what have I been doing?
So I rolled down the window and I looked her in the eye
Oh, how many times have I just passed her by?
I gave her some money than I drove on through
And my own little world reached population: two

What if there’s a bigger picture?
What if I’m missing out?
What if there’s a greater purpose?
I could be living right now
Outside my own little world
My own little world

Father, break my heart for what breaks Yours
Give me open hands and open doors
Put Your light in my eyes and let me see
That my own little world is not about me

What if there’s a bigger picture?
What if I’m missing out?
What if there’s a greater purpose?
That I could be living right now
I don’t want to miss what matters
I wanna be reaching out
Show me the greater purpose
So I can start living right now

Outside my own little world
My own little world
My own little world

“Master, which is the greatest commandment in the law?
Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart, and with all your soul,
and with all your mind.
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like it,
you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
— Matthew 22:36-39

Enjoy this song and God bless!

Cheers,
Brenda

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Self-Esteem – 10 Empowering Ways to Look Your Best and Live with Confidence!

Self-Esteem – 10 Empowering Ways to Look Your Best and Live with Confidence!

Empower Yourself With Confidence and Look Your Best

Empower yourself with confidence on the inside and you’ll begin to look your best on the outside.

We often spend lots of time and money on dressing up our outward appearance with the latest hair styles, lotions, sprays, make-up, designer clothes, etc.

Yet, there are many things we can do on the inside…

that will help us shine on the outside.

10 Empowering Ways to Look Your Best:

1. Help Others. You’ll Be Glad You Did.

How can helping others make you look good? We are here to serve others and in doing so we build our confidence. The satisfaction of helping others allows us to walk tall with our head up knowing we take time to put others first.

2. Talk and Walk with Happiness. God Created You.

Why walk around feeling sad and talking about yourself like a worthless nobody? The Almighty God of the universe created you with a unique divine purpose for your life on this earth. Be happy knowing your heavenly Father favors you and let your talk and walk show it.

3. Choose Joy No Matter What Happens Today.

How can you choose joy when there is trouble in your life? True joy comes from peace with God and putting your trust in Him. You can live with joy and confidence knowing God is with you even in your days of trouble.

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.” — Psalm 28:7

4. Be Content With Yourself and Do Not Envy Others.

Why let the stress of jealousy and envy of others make you look your worst? Learn to be content and thankful with who you are and what you have. God made you the unique you for a reason. Ask God to help you change what needs to change in your life and be happy for others when they are blessed.

5. Be Generous to God and the People Around You.

There is nothing like being refreshed to look your best! And God says that those who refresh others will they themselves be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:25) When you are generous with your time and money towards God and others, you will enjoy a refreshing from the inside out that lets you shine and look your best.

6. Speak What is True and With Lots of Kindness.

How do you look at honest, kind people compared to liars and mean people? Those who speak the truth with kindness put their best side forward; and it shows on the outside. Honest people look their best, because they live their best.

7. Keep Your Heart Free of Wrong Desires.

Keep your heart full of healthy, positive, godly desires. The desires of our heart are the things we are going to think on and speak on. And these are the things that are going to come to pass in our life. So look your best by letting godly desires manifest in your life.

8. Take Care of Your Appearance.

Okay. So we weren’t all born looking like Barbie and Ken. But we still need to do the best with what we have and learn to ‘accentuate the positive.’ Taking care of your outward appearance increases your confidence, and greater confidence helps you look even better on the outside; a nice little cycle to get started.

9. Be Real. No Need to Fake It.

Can’t you usually spot a fake a mile away? No need to be one. No need to try and be someone else, because you are not. You are you. So just be real and be you. Again, learn to do the best with what you have and be confident in you who you are. The real you looks much better than the fake you!

10. Wear a Smile. Smile God Loves You!

Who can deny a smile to look your best? And who can deny the power of love to put a smile on your face? Even if you don’t have a special sweetheart in your life, you always have a God who loves you. And when you have the love of God in your life, you can’t help but smile and look your best.

Start Today. Begin to put these ten empowering ways into practice, and walk confident and look your best.

May you be empowered on the inside so you can look your best on the outside and enjoy a life of growing prosperity!

God bless you –

Cheers,
Brenda

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Top 5 Proven Techniques for Living a Truly Happy and Joyful Life Inside and Out!

Top 5 Proven Techniques for Living a Truly Happy and Joyful Life Inside and Out!

Learn to Be Happy by Adjusting Your Thinking and Living Habits!

True happiness can be experienced by all who apply ‘happiness habits’ to their day. There are some who are simply born with a happy disposition. But the truth is; most people have to learn to be happy by thinking and living in a particular way.

Often people are happy in life when everything is going just right. Yet those who have learned how to be truly happy aren’t always the ones who ‘have it all.’ External circumstances do not control their level of happiness. They have discovered the secret of being able to experience an underlying peace and well-being; which is the essence of true happiness.

Happy people live their lives differently. And when acquiring any new skill, it pays to learn from the pro.

“We can think of happiness as a skill no different from learning to play a musical instrument…it is possible to train our minds to be happy.” – Richard Davidson, Ph.D. UW-Madison

So if you are ready to let some joy shine through you from the inside out, then take a look at these five key skills.

Top 5 Proven Techniques for True Happiness

1) Notice and Give Thanks for the Happy Things in Your Life

Learn to take note of everything good and positive in your life, regardless of how small. What are the things that you see, feel, taste, hear, or smell that bring pleasure?

Intention activates a part of the brain, the reticular activating system (RAS), which is responsible for turning on our memory and allowing it to bring anything important to our attention. When you decide to look for the positive, your RAS makes sure that is what you see.

We tend to feed the unhappy, negative side of life. Make it a game to see how many good things you notice during the day. Take a few moments to savor the positive things and make it a habit to feed your happiness.

2) Do Not Believe Everything You Think

Do not believe everything you think. Our thoughts are not always true.

For example, you may give a presentation and focus in on the one person with a frown on their face, and think you’re doing a terrible job. Yet the fact is you are really doing a great job, but you do not notice the rest of the group that is smiling and nodding.

It is said that we average one thought per second during our waking hours and the vast majority are habitual, negative thoughts. This whirlwind of automatic negative thoughts can stimulate parts of the brain that involve depression and anxiety.

Learn not to believe every negative thought that wants to hijack your happiness, and instead focus in on the positive compliments. It is important to break the natural tendency to register the negative thoughts, feelings, and experiences more deeply than the positive happy ones.

3) Exchange the Bad Thought for the Happy Thought

When challenged with negative, unhappy thoughts and feelings in a situation, learn to exchange them for equally true, positive, happy thoughts.

For example, have you ever faced a deadline and thought it was going to be impossible to finish on time? Why not exchange that self-defeating thought by searching your mind for an equally true positive thought such as: I regularly manage to get things done on time and I can ask for help.

Learn to be more optimistic and see the glass half full. Pay more attention to the positive part of the truth in a given situation and lean into those thoughts. Let the joy of the Lord be your strength.

4) Appreciate the People in Your Life

People with good social relationships tend to be happy. Under times of stress we need the support of friends and family. And the best way to keep relationships happy and healthy is through appreciation.

“One of the most important things a person can do to raise his or her happiness level is to acknowledge those around them.” – Judith W. Umlas (author of The Power of Acknowledgement)

By showing appreciation to others for the support they give us, we reinforce that behavior; which in turn deepens our relationship with them. Engaging and communicating with others during times of stress has a calming effect and keeps us on the road to happiness.

5) Live with a Passion and a Purpose

Bringing a sense of purpose and passion to your routine activities will boost your happiness. Think about the activities in your life that you are passionate about. What is it about those things that make you happy?

One person may feel like an underpaid janitor, but another may passionately do their job the best they can with a purpose to make the building a beautiful place for others.

Learn to incorporate purpose and passion in your daily life at work and at home. Do all things gladly from the heart as unto the Lord.

The truth is: You do not have to let life just toss you around in unhappy waters. You can choose to learn new skills, live your life differently, and raise your level of happiness. 🙂

May your happiness increase daily and your life be filled with growing prosperity!

God bless you –

Cheers,
Brenda

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Help Me! How on Earth Do I Know What God’s Purpose and Will is for My Life?

Help Me! How on Earth Do I Know What God’s Purpose and Will is for My Life?

Knowing God’s Will and God’s Purpose for Your Life

Who, at some point, hasn’t asked:

“What is God’s plan and purpose for my life?”

We sooner or later reach a time in life when we find our self questioning why we are here. We come to a point of knowing, deep inside, that there must be something more God would have for us to do with our lives.

Well, how can you know the will of God and what you should do with your life? Good question. And it all starts with the Word of God, since God’s Word is God’s will.

Knowing God’s General Will

The Bible teaches us how to live our lives. It is filled with instructions and directions and it reveals God’s general will for all of us. So, first and foremost, we need to get into God’s Word so that we can know what He wants from us. His Word is very powerful and will guide us.

Here are just a couple examples:

“Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” — Romans 12:1-2

“Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

God’s will for man is not a hidden mystery. Anyone can open the Book and quickly see many things that God wants them to do (and not do). The chief aim and purpose of our lives should be to live according to His revealed will.

Knowing God’s Specific Will

Now you might be asking, “How do I know God’s specific plan for my life?” People often want God to tell them specifically what to do; like where to live, where to work, where to go to school, who to marry, etcetera.

Well, God can show us in many different ways. A loud, audible voice from heaven is not required, but listening to that still, small voice is. God has given us the Holy Spirit for guidance. The Spirit of truth is here to guide us into all truth. (John 16:13)

God can also direct us, through the events happening around us.  And if we are already living daily according to God’s revealed will, decisions will be much clearer and easier to make. There is a peace that comes when we are pleasing God with our lives.

To get answers, we also need to pray and ask for God’s help and direction. When deciding between two options, the one that brings a greater peace is usually God’s will. Emotions sometimes create a false peace, but true peace will remain even after emotions fall.

Keep in mind: God allows us to make choices, but He is ultimately in control. We should trust Him always in faith that He will accomplish His will in our lives.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” — Proverbs 3:5-6

Plus, questions we should be asking are, “Am I doing this for me or for God?  Is this what I want or what God wants?”  The key is to desire to make choices that agree with God’s will. If a decision does not go against the Word of God, then we can follow our heart.

“It was the Lord who put it into my mind… I could feel His hand upon me… There is no question the inspiration was from the Holy Spirit because He comforted me with rays of marvelous illumination from the Holy Scriptures… No one should fear to undertake any task in the name of our Savior if it is just and if the intention is purely for His holy service.” 
— Christopher Columbus (from his diary, in reference to his discovery of ‘the New World’)

Created with a Purpose

God does have great plans for your life! You were created by God, in His image, for a purpose. (Jeremiah 29:11) We have all been given unique gifts and talents. And just like our physical body is made up of many different parts, all unique, and all important to having a fully functioning body; so it is with the body of Christ.

Your gifts and talents have been given to you so you can be a blessing to the kingdom of God and make a positive contribution in life. So step out and act on the revealed knowledge you have already been given and use the talents you already have.

Then trust God to reveal more to you after you are faithful first in the little. Be confident that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion. (Philippians 1:6) God’s purpose for all is that He is glorified and the gospel and kingdom of God be advanced.

In Conclusion: The wise king Solomon tells us the conclusion of the whole matter and duty of man is to fear God and keep His commandments. (Ecclesiastes 12:13) He also encourages us to enjoy life and be happy with our work. Keep the Word of God your foundation and watch His great plan revealed before your very eyes. God is for you and He will help you.

May you seek first the kingdom of God and live a life full of growing prosperity!

God bless you,
Brenda

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Future Hope – Top 10 Inspiring Reasons to Believe Your Future Is Bright!

Future Hope – Top 10 Inspiring Reasons to Believe Your Future Is Bright!

A Future Filled with Hope and Success

Hope for the future is available…

but it can sometimes seem hard to come by.

It is often said we have our whole life ahead of us.

Yet, many people go through difficult seasons in life and question what there is to look forward to.

No matter where you are, hope for the future is available for you to grab onto.

10 Inspiring Reasons to Believe Your Future is Bright:

1. Mistakes in Life Do Not Have the Final Say

If you make mistakes, you can start over. Mistakes are a part of the growing process and learning curve of life. As we start putting our mistakes in the past, our future begins to look bright.

2. You are a Work in Progress

God has promised to keep on working in you and with you. Growing and developing takes time and we should expect continued personal growth in our future.

3. Never Too Young or Old

You are never too young or old to fill your days with meaning and purpose. Consider Moses: He was 80 years old when God called him to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt!

4. Every Day is a New Day

Each day is new and fresh. You can make the most of each one. If we’ve fallen short today, we can look forward to a new day tomorrow. Thank God that His grace and mercy is new every day. (Lamentations 3:21-23)

5. You are Never Alone

God said He would never leave you or abandon you. (Hebrews 13:5) People may leave us, but God will not. The future is bright knowing God is in it.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit.” — Romans 15:13

6. God Loves You

God loves you unconditionally! God loves you just the way you are. But like the saying goes, He also loves you too much to leave you the way you are.

7. You Have a Purpose in Life

God created you with a purpose and you can discover it. We have all been given unique gifts and talents that help us fulfill our purpose. Discovering our purpose and living it makes the future bright not only for us, but also those around us.

8. God Shall Supply All Your Needs

God will take care of your needs as you seek and obey His Word. (Philippians 4:19) “The Lord is my portion, says my soul: therefore will I hope in Him.” – Lamentations 3:24

9. Mansions in Heaven

God has created a wondrous place in heaven for His children. We have hope that after our life on earth we graduate to eternal life in heaven. “In My Father’s house are many mansions… I go to prepare a place for you.” – John 14:2

10. Guidance from the Most High God

If we trust, rely on, and acknowledge God, He will direct our life. The God that created the universe is available to help guide our life. “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” – Proverbs 3:6

Hope for the future may have faded for you. You may feel like you are in a prison and have no future. But no matter where you are, God has promised to bless you with a future filled with hope and success, not suffering. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Do yourself a favor: Have hope and believe your future is bright. Let the truth of God’s love set you free. God is a miracle-working God. He does not punish us all our life for our mistakes.  He wants us to look forward and not backward. Put your hope and trust in God and allow Him to be an active part of your life.

May your hope be strong, your future bright, and your life full of growing prosperity!

Be blessed to be a blessing –

Cheers,
Brenda

P.S. Feel free to share your thoughts… and thanks to Billy Alexander for this fun image – you can view more of his creative images here.

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What Is God’s Will? Skit Guys Video

What Is God’s Will? Skit Guys Video

A Look at Knowing God’s Will for Your Life

Enjoy some humor with this video by the Skit Guys. Be sure to hear what he says in the beginning of the video: God’s plan and will for our lives will NOT contradict God’s Word (which is His will).

So yes, there are lots of obvious things in God’s Word that are His will for everyone. God also gives us unique gifts, talents, and desires. We all have a purpose in His kingdom. When we put into motion, in life, those things we are passionate about and follow our heart – this helps move us into the center of God’s will.

For some Christians, God’s will for their life is very clear from an early age. For others, it is a constant step-by-step process that seems to be revealed with each step and act of obedience to God’s truths.

Again though, our heart and our passions will help guide us into the center of God’s will, but they need to be in line with God’s Word and not contradict it.

“I pray for you and desire that you might be filled with the
knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
That you might walk worthy of the Lord to all pleasing,
being fruitful in every good work,
and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power,
to all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Giving thanks to the Father, which has made us
to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light;
Who has delivered us from the power of darkness,
and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son:
In whom we have redemption through His blood,
even the forgiveness of sins:
Who is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of every creature:
For by Him were all things created,
that are in heaven, and that are in earth,
visible and invisible, whether they be
thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers:
all things were created by Him, and for Him:
and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.”
— Colossians 1:9-17

God bless you –

Cheers,
Brenda

P.S. Have a great day and feel free to share your comments…

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