Reminders for the New Year

May you laugh a little louder, fear a whole lot less, dream a bit more often and always do your best...

I recently found some of my notes and quotes (I'm not sure who the authors are, some may be Peace Pilgrim's) about affirming God's presence in our lives and the importance of our thoughts. I want to share them with you:

One of the most powerful concepts, one which is a cure for lack of confidence, is the thought that God is actually with you and helping you. This is one of the simplest teachings in many religions: "God will be your companion, will stand by you, help you, and see you through." No other idea is so powerful in developing self-confidence as this simple belief when practiced. Simply affirm: "God is with me; God is helping me; God is guiding me." (Or you can say "Spirit" or "My Guide" or use another word that suits you). Spend several minutes each day visualizing His presence (the presence of unconditional LOVE). Then practice believing that affirmation. Go about your business on the assumption that what you have affirmed and visualized is true. You are safe, you are with God.

Affirm it, visualize it, believe it, and it will actualize itself. The release of power which this procedure stimulates will astonish you... Affirmations are very important! What we tell ourselves day in and day out matters and is reflected in our lives. I firmly believe that we are responsible for our life and what we create in it. Our thoughts, our words, our actions and our intentions determine our fate and create outcomes in our life - create our life!

Practice the following affirmation (repeating it out loud if possible): "I can do all things through God which strengthens me." That statement is the most powerful antidote on earth to inferiority thoughts.

Put yourself in God's hands. Simply state: "I am in God's hands." Then believe you are NOW receiving all the power you need. "Feel" it flowing into you. Affirm that "the kingdom of God is within you: in the form of adequate power to meet life's demands. Remind yourself that God is with you and nothing can defeat you. Believe that you now RECEIVE power from Him. With God you are STRONG and anything is possible!

In Romans 12:2 Paul states: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

“You are not what you think you are; what you think, you are.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Renew your mind, pay attention to your thoughts and put positive thoughts there. Practice emptying your mind of fears, hates, insecurities, regrets, and guilt. Fill your mind with creative and healthy thoughts. Then, when old fears, hates, and worries that have haunted you for so long try to edge back in, they will find a sign on the door of your mind reading: "occupied."
~ Norman Vincent Peale ("The Power of Positive Thinking")

"The words we speak have a direct and definite effect upon our thoughts."

"You create your thoughts, and your thoughts create your life. Do you like what you have created? Contemplate yourself each day and you will unravel the mystery of not only what you are but who you are."

"What you find in your mind is what you put there. Put good things there."

"You cannot control the world outside, but you can choose what you will bring into yourself. If you do not see anything of value in your life, begin by finding one thing of beauty every day until it becomes a habit."

"God is the light and love of the world."

"Be at peace with yourself. If you are not at peace with yourself, you are at peace with nothing."

"How often is peace a place within your mind and your world? Learn to maintain a peaceful state of mind at all costs. If you do not, it will cost you in the quality of how you experience life."

"The way of inner peace is through love..."

"If you want to make peace, you must be peaceful..."

"If you want to make friends, you must be friendly..."

"To love forever is to live forever..."

"The ten most powerful two-letter words: If it is to be, it is up to me."