There is a huge difference between personal transformation and just talking and wishing. We can counsel, advise, pray and encourage someone, but they are the only ones who can discipline their thoughts, take the initiative and chart a new direction.
For example, being an optimistic person does not fall out of the air and happen on its own. Rather, it’s a learned behavior similar to developing bad habits, such as a negative attitude or a rude personality. We cannot prevent unpleasant things from happening to us, but we decide if they will control us, or we can prevent them from controlling us. As we discover what God wants us to be, we are then faced with deciding just how much we will do.
Philippians 1:6 declares, “Being confident of this very thing, that he (God) who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” The writer is saying that God considers you his most valuable possession and is filled with anticipation and excitement to see you flourish and thrive according to his plans. However, it will require self-discipline to overcome fear and doubt as he will not force us to obey him the same as he does not make us love him.
In the course of our lives, we watch those who have accomplished admirable things, while the unseen forces of negativity remind us how we could never do that. You may tell yourself “you are not good enough” or “you do not deserve this or that.” These are some of the most common lies that people face when dealing with low self-esteem. The truth is these individuals who are soaring in the clouds have also been hounded by the same dark voices and deceptions, yet became determined to rise above them.
Anyone who has advanced in God’s wisdom and obedience has learned to be careful about who they listen to. Sadly, some have become a victim of their environment and must break free from the cycle of dysfunction. Our thoughts control our actions, and eagles have no business hanging around in the chicken coop. Birds of a feather flock together, and if you are determined to be an eagle, it’s important to spend time with other eagles.