accentuate the positive...

I don't know about you, but I seem to be in a constant battle to keep my thoughts on positive rather than negative things. God's Word tells me I need to be keep my thoughts focused on good things, on His perspective, on truth.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ~Philippians 4:8

And it also instructs us to "take every thought captive to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5)

I don't think it's about being a Pollyanna but I do believe we are to be obedient in these things in order to develop hearts and lives of gratitude...and lives that bring joy to others and glory to God.

I was reminded of this song the other day, and I thought I'd share the words with you for fun...

Accentuate the Positive
Words and Music by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer

Gather 'round me, everybody
Gather 'round me while I'm preachin
'Feel a sermon comin' on me
The topic will be sin and that's what I'm ag'in'
If you wanna hear my story
The settle back and just sit tight
While I start reviewin'
The attitude of doin' right

You've got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
And latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between

You've got to spread joy up to the maximum
Bring gloom down to the minimum
Have faith or pandemonium's
Liable to walk upon the scene

To illustrate my last remark
Jonah in the whale, Noah in the ark
What did they do just when everything looked so dark?

(Man, they said "We'd better accentuate the positive")
("Eliminate the negative")
("And latch on to the affirmative")
Don't mess with Mister In-Between (No!)
Don't mess with Mister In-Between

(Ya got to spread joy up to the maximum)
(Bring gloom down to the minimum)
(Have faith or pandemonium's)
(Liable to walk upon the scene)

You got to ac (yes, yes) -cent-tchu-ate the positive
Eliminate (yes, yes) the negative
And latch (yes, yes) on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between
No, don't mess with Mister In-Between

That's it... accentuate the positive... eliminate the negative... and LATCH ONTO the affirmative! What wise words for living a grateful life!