Jesus said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” He didn’t say He had avoided the world.
Jesus overcame the world by squarely facing each challenge and lifting His eyes to heaven; that is, He lifted His vision above the appearance to the way it is in heaven, or in the ideal. His tremendous faith allowed Him to perceive the ideal even when others saw only His trials and tribulations. He had faith in God, faith in His prayers, and faith in the power of His spoken word.
We too can overcome the world by following Jesus’ example. With faith, we rise above the trap of negative appearances. Through faith in God, we conquer doubt and fear. With faith in our spoken word, we have the power to change the world.
For you to overcome the world, you must change the way you see it. Activate your power of faith and let the eyes of faith transform you into an overcomer.
Many people believe poverty to be their natural state of being. Such a belief leads to increasingly worse conditions.
Poverty is often due to slovenly attitudes, slipshod work, idleness, laziness, lack of effort, dawdling, and wrong thinking. Should you experience any form of poverty, regard it as abnormal and work to get away from it. Refuse to reconcile yourself to an unfortunate environment.
God has provided us with a universe of unlimited abundance. Jesus said, “It is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Turn your back on poverty by turning toward God.
Begin to affirm God’s limitless good. Reject all pinched, stingy thoughts of lack that cut off your good. Put yourself into what you do. See yourself in mind as rising above your present conditions and enjoying God’s abundant good. You must see a new world before you can live in it. You must see in mind better conditions and circumstances before you can experience them.
Do you firmly believe that your thoughts can change your life? We were given dominion over our thoughts, and we have the power to call forth what we believe in. This is absolute truth. Every seed thought can grow into its fulfillment. As we persistently dwell upon the good we desire, we bring it into being. If our faith does not waver and our mental pictures are held constant and true, we will not be disappointed.
God wants us to have our good even more than we want it. We have the Spirit of God within us, guiding us to our good. Truly all things are possible with God. All good things come from God, and God in the midst of our being is our partner as we determine to find our good.
Truly, your thoughts can change your life. Walk in this knowledge today—fully knowing that the kingdom of God is within—and you will call forth unlimited good.
The Bible teaches that we do not have to adapt ourselves to undesirable outer conditions and circumstances. It teaches that there is no value in tolerating unwelcome situations. In fact, we are told that we are created with dominion and authority over our world.
We have the power to change outer things, or to adapt them to fit our needs if we will assume our dominion and authority. As thinking beings, we make our own world according to our predominant thoughts and feelings. If we do not like what we are experiencing in our outer world, then we must change what we experience in our inner world. We have direct control over our thoughts and feelings, yet it is up to us to assume this control.
There is a divine spark within you. You can mold and make your world what you will by assuming command of your thoughts and feelings. Direct them in the way you desire your life to go, for as within, so without.
True success is self-improvement. Endeavor today to exceed yourself. The victorious spirit of the Indwelling Christ is at your command, helping you seek guidance, helping you listen to and follow your spiritual guidance. The challenge to rise above your own shortcomings is a wonderful opportunity to prove yourself. Rather than compare your productivity and your work with that of other people, seek to improve yourself. Bless others as you see them working to improve themselves.
There need be no sense of rivalry with another—no sense of competition. Seek to cooperate with others as you seek to improve yourself. You will be cooperating with the good and doing your part toward building a happier, more harmonious world.