Self Improvement Tips for Nerds

I was looking at some articles written by Norman Vincent Peale the author of the Power Of Positive Thinking the other day and was very impressed with a lot of what he had to say. I haven't as yet had the opportunity to read his book but definitely plan to soon however I do want to touch on one of the statements which he made that is so simplistic yet amazingly powerful if we can apply it in our lives.

I can't remember the exact wording that was used but he said something like all we have to do is replace the bad thoughts with good thoughts.

Let me say that again - all we have to do is replace the bad thoughts with good thoughts. How simple is that?

Our minds can only think on one thing at a time. If you catch yourself dwelling on negative thoughts then make the conscious choice immediately to switch to positive thoughts. It is like switching on a light in a dark room the darkness (negative thoughts) will flee away. Really take hold of what is being said here... Our minds can only think on one thing at a time. If we think on the positive there is no room left for the negative.

So how do Christians combat negative, doubtful or even evil thoughts?

Check this out...


Romans 12:21
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.


Wow! It is so amazingly simple yet wonderfully effective. Any problem or difficulty we have can be overcome with good. To overcome means to have the victory over. How do you get the victory over your negative thinking? With good... what an amazing weapon against evil.

Norman Vincent Peale was a big fan of using affirmations to replace negative thinking or should it just be called wrong thinking? There are some wonderful stories of how Biblical affirmations have assisted many people to achieve success and happiness in life. You will find more positive affirmations in the Bible than all of the self help books combined and when you dive into the wonderful word of God you will soon be over powered by just how much God loves you and what lengths he has gone to for you to have a more abundant life.

At the end of the day we just can not allow our natural inadequate thinking or reasonings to dictate our direction in life. We need to take control of our minds and therefore control our lives. Chose to do it... It just isn't going to happen by itself. You need to take control and start right now to replace the bad with the good. You will be amazed at how much better you will feel and when you feel good you do good.


Micah 6:8
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?


So what is good?

To do justly
To love mercy
To walk humbly with your God


Does the Bible encourage us to think on certain things?

Check this out in Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.


Let's itemize those things we are encouraged to think on:

1. Things that are just
2. Things that a pure
3. Things that are lovely
4. Things that are of a good report
5. Things that are of virtue
6. Things that be of any praise

In summary we are encouraged in the scriptures to think about good things. We truly can overcome evil with good and it starts with our own thinking.