Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in 1 Corinthians chapter 3:
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
Each of us is tasked with guarding his or her heart. Our hearts and minds are being fed and watered every day with either uplifting, positive thoughts or negative and destructive thoughts. Both Paul and Apollos were spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ knowing that the increase comes from FATHER. Both men understood the needs to share The Word in order for people to change for the better thus it was and is important to share The Word if we are to expect positive results.
However, the world is sharing its own word equating to scarcity, death, and destruction. The doctrines of men attempt to move the world into greater darkness. Paul issues this warning by THE SPIRIT in 2 Timothy chapter 3:
1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
Can anyone dispute the fact that this is what is happening before our eyes? Is there one adjective in the above passage that is not taking place? Paul’s warning is to turn away from such people because he understood the Truth of seedtime and harvest. What we focus on, ponder, and entertain will grow inside of us. Wisdom wrote in Proverbs chapter 4:
20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart;
22 For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.
We ultimately become like the company we keep. If we associate with people who are negative and judgmental, we will ultimately speak in like manner. If we listen to music which degrades and condemns others, then we will begin to think and speak like those artists. This reality often occurs subtly and over long periods of time but one day a person will wake up and realize that their thoughts and words no longer reflect the Divine Intent of FATHER. They become critical of others even though they have plenty of flaws themselves.
There is nothing wrong with positive thinking when it lines up with The Word. Faith is positive by its very nature. Faith expects the temporary to improve and remove the negative circumstances from our life or why should we walk in faith? When we set a positive expectation for change in our life according to a promise in FATHER’S Word, we are exercising faith. Can you imagine how Noah was ridiculed while he and his sons were building the ark? What about Abraham and Sarah? The naysayers surely tried to convince them that there was no way for Sarah to bear a child at her age given she was barren.
We are not subject to our circumstances unless we believe we are. Faith expects change to occur when we are not contradicting change by our own thoughts and confession. As we study The Word and allow FATHER to increase it in our life, our faith will grow and we will see positive change occur. Growth in some occurs quicker than in others because each of us has a unique way of receiving and processing.
We must let our past remain there and not allow our thoughts to be dictated by our past. Our response to adversity will help determine what is in our hearts but we must be brutally honest with ourselves. Let us take command of what is planted and watered in our hearts and minds.