How  to  Win  in  Life  in  a  Greater  Way  

 By  Ronald  Cooper  

 Excerpt  

 Think  on  Positive  Things    Men  harm  others  by  their  deeds,  them-­‐  selves  by  their  thoughts.    -­‐-­‐Augustus    

A  Positive  Mind  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  a  good  report;  if  there  be  any  virtue,  and  if  there  be  any  praise,  think  on  these  things  (Philippians  4:8).  

 The  second  of  three  principles  that  produce  a  healthy  mentality  is  the  principle  of  thinking  with  a  positive  mind.  It  is  a  natural  outgrowth  of  the  believer's  relationship  with  God...    Why  It's  Important  To  Have  a  Positive  Mind    

It  is  important  to  think  with  a  positive  mind  in  order  to  produce  positive  results  in  every  area  of  one's  life.  Wouldn't  you  imagine  that  every  believer  would  be  interested  in  producing  positive  results  in  his  or  her  life-­‐-­‐spiritually,  mentally,  physically,  emotionally,  financially,  and  relationally?  

The  believer  who  deeply  desires  to  have  a  positive  mind  must  humble  himself  or  herself  to  the  status  of  a  beginner  and  proceed  from  there.  In  time,  the  believer  will  definitely  experience  more  positive  results  in  each  area  of  his  or  her  life.  To  choose  to  think  with  a  more  positive  mind  is  an  exciting  adventure  that  produces  more  and  more  positive  results  as  time  goes  on.  The  rewards  will  be  worth  every  patient  effort  invested  in  the  process.  If  you  accept  the  challenge  to  become  a  more  positive  thinker,  you  will  soon  begin  to  produce  more  winning  results  in  your  life.  

Let's  look  at  two  people  who  knew  positive  and  negative  thinking,  but  who  ultimately  choose  to  live  positively:  

 Success  Profile-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐The  Apostle  Peter    

If  Moses  was  the  man  who  was  afraid  to  speak,  the  Apostle  Peter  was  undoubtedly  the  man  who  was  not  afraid  to  speak.  

In  fact  he  got  himself  into  trouble  on  many  occasions  because  of  his  impetuous  outbursts.  One  stormy  night  Jesus  walked  on  the  water  to  the  boat  where  the  disciples  cowered  in  fear:  

 And  when  the  disciples  saw  him  walking  on  the  sea,  they  were  troubled,  saying,  It  is  a  spirit;  and  they  cried  out  for  fear.  But  straightway  Jesus  spake  unto  them  saying,  Be  of  good  cheer;  it  is  I;  be  not  afraid.  And  Peter  answered  him  and  said,  Lord  if  it  be  thou,  bid  me  come  unto  thee  on  the  water.  And  he  said,  Come.  And  when  Peter  was    come  down  out  of  the  ship,  he  walked  on  the  water,  to  go  to  Jesus.  But  when  he  saw  the  wind  boisterous,  he  was  afraid;  and  beginning  to  sink,  he  cried,  saying,  Lord,  save    me.  And  immediately  Jesus  stretched  forth  his  hand,  and  caught  him,  and  said  unto  him,  O  thou  of  little  faith,  where-­‐  fore  didst  thou  doubt?  (Matthew  14:26-­‐31).    

One  minute  he  was  walking  on  water  with  Jesus;  the  next  minute  he  was  falling  in  the  waves,  rebuked  for  his  little  faith...    Can  you  identify  with  Peter?  One  minute  you're  up;  the  next  minute  you're  down...  Could  God  really  use  someone  like  Peter?  On  the  day  of  Pentecost,  one  of  the  greatest  presentations  of  the  Gospel  was  delivered  by  none  other  than  Peter.  Yes,  God  used  Peter  mightily.  And  He  can  use  you  too!  

 

 

Success  Profile-­‐-­‐-­‐Immaculee  Ilibagiza    

Immaculee  Ilibagiza  was  born  in  Rwanda  and  studied  electronic  and  mechanical  engineering  at  the  National  University.  Her  life  was  dramatically  turned  upside  down  during  the  1994  Rwandan  holocaust  when  she  and  seven  other  women  spent  91  days  huddled  together  in  a  3ft.  by  4ft.  bathroom  of  a  local  pastor's  house.  Immaculee  entered  the  bathroom  a  vibrant,  115-­‐pound  university  student  with  a  loving  family  and  emerged  weighing  just  65  pounds  to  find  that  most  of  her  family  had  been  brutally  murdered.  

The  anger  and  torment  brought  about  by  her  situation  would  have  consumed  her  had  she  not  turned  to  prayer.  She  prayed  from  morning  'til  night.  Through  prayer  she  was  able  to  forgive  those  who  had  killed  her  family.  She  later  came  face  to  face  with  the  killer  of  her  mother  and  brother  and  said  the  unthinkable,  "I  forgive  you".  

In  1998,  Immaculee  immigrated  to  the  United  States  where  she  continued  to  work  for  the  UN.  Her  book,  Left  to  Tell:  Discovering  God  Amidst  the  Rwandan  Holocust  was  released  in  2006.  It  quickly  became  A  New  York  Times  Best  Seller...  

 Putting  It  Into  Practice    Here  are  ideas...  to  help  you  produce  more  positive  results  in  your  life:    

1.  Thinking  with  a  positive  mind  does  not  ignore  or  deny  the  negative  things  that  beset  us.  However,  it  helps  us  focus  on  the  positive  side  of  things...  Don't  dwell  on  the  negative.  According  to  the  song  Ac-­‐cent-­‐tchu-­‐ate  the  Positive  sung  by  Aretha  Franklin,  you  need  to  keep  it  upbeat.  2.  Make  a  list  of  all  the  positive  qualities,  gifts,  and  skills  that  God  has  given  you...  Look  at  the  list  anytime  you  are  feeling  down.  

 

Ronald A. Cooper is an extraordinary gifted, ordained minister, speaker, and author. His stellar combination of faith, professionalism, genuine interest in helping people, and unique life

experiences have equipped him to make life-changing contributions to numerous individuals and churches for thirty-nine years. He graduated from University of Arkansas (formerly AM&N

College), Pine Bluff, and Payne Theological Seminary, Wilberforce, Ohio.

Learn more at www.ronaldacooper.com