Roses or Thorns? What You Choose to Notice Matters
A practical Christian study of “Roses or Thorns? What You Choose to Notice Matters,” with clear application for faith, relationships, and everyday life.
Roses or Thorns?
Play the original Excel Still More episode here without leaving the article.
The principle
I want to talk to you about being positive versus negative, the comparison between an optimistic person and what happens in their life and how they get to that point versus someone who is pessimistic and how that bears out over time. I'm actually going to introduce an article with some scientific backing on the repercussions of negativity.
This article, in no way attached to the Word of God, has three clear suggestions on how to become more positive, more optimistic, and they just so happen to jive nearly perfectly with the efforts we're trying to make in the Excel Stillmore journal or any kind of journal that you are using where you dedicate time to very specific things on a regular and daily basis.
The deeper lesson
And keep in mind, and by the way, I didn't think to say this when I was ten, but many of the things that you have in your life to celebrate today, God specifically chose to give you. I wonder if he wants us staring at the air pocket above the water in the glass, or should we be praising his name for what we have?
The second example in that lesson from so many years ago harkens back again to our title When you see a rose bush with the red blooming roses, do you notice the flowers or do you notice the thorns?
What it changes
If you're someone staring at the empty part of that glass, or disappointed that roses have to have thorns, or you look at your family, your job, your life, where you are, and all you can see is what God hasn't given you instead of what God has given you, you need to understand it's going to put at risk even what you have. The article goes on to say previous research supports all of these hypotheses, but also that people who look at life from a positive perspective have a much better shot at avoiding death from any type of cardiovascular risk than pessimistic people.
In fact, the more positive the person, the greater the protection from ready, heart attacks, stroke, and any cause of death.
Live it today
I write out some prayers to God, I read through a chapter of scripture and write down some things from the Word. I lay out a well spaced out plan for the day, put down a spiritual highlight I hope to accomplish, a frog I'm going to eat, no stress, just a frog.
I pick one thing I'm thankful for, and I talk about gratefulness to God, and then I finish with affirmations, a vision of myself, of who I know I can be in Him.
Take the idea with you.
- 01Where do I see the problem or opportunity described in “Roses or Thorns? What You Choose to Notice Matters” in my own life?
- 02What Scripture or spiritual principle in this study most needs my attention?
- 03What one specific change can I make this week to put this teaching into practice?
Prefer listening?
The original episode player is available near the top of this article, so you can listen without leaving the page.