When these thoughts flash into the mind, it is just like when a camera loaded with film and focused at object(s) is snapped, what happens is that the image(s) of the object(s) automatically transfers into the film.

So in one day, about ten thousand ideas or thoughts like images of objects flash into our minds but unlike an ordinary camera, our minds may not have control over what should or shouldn’t flash into them and to some extent they may not even have control over the first stage of development of these thoughts, ideas or images because they begin to develop not when they flash into our minds but when we give them initial thought.

It is natural for thoughts to flash into our minds. It is also natural to give them initial thoughts. It is like developing the images in a film first of all into a negative so that through the negative we can determine which image is good or not good to be processed into a full clear picture.

By so doing we will be able to identify those thoughts that according to Phil 4:8, are honest, just ,pure, lovely, good report, virtuous, praise worthy and continue to think on them. These are the thoughts that hold positive potentials for good and as we continue to think on them our minds undergo a renewal process which will culminate into the transformation of our whole being-body soul- spirit. Rm12:12 says “and be not conformed to this world, but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is Good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God?

Through this transformation we now not only think positively; and under stand what the will of GOD are but we also possess the power to prove and demonstrable to the world what is GOOD and acceptable in the sight of GOD and what His perfect will is.

At this juncture, our minds or hearts rather than remaining the centre of deceit and evil become a fountain of life, whatever comes out of them becomes an issue of life according to Proverbs 4:23 which says “keep your heart with diligence for out of it come the issues of life?

POSITIVE CONFESSION
The issues that come out from the mind or heart have one channel and that is the mouth.
“Life and death are in the power of the tongue and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.?Prov. 18:21
“Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks?LK 6:45. In other words, if life is in abundance in the heart, your confessions will bring about life; in the same way, if death is in abundance in the heart, your confessions will bring about death.
So life and death as the products of the abundance of the heart are also fruits of the lips; and which ever fruit you love, is the one that shall satisfy you.
No wonder the bible says “A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his lips?Prov. 12:14. So we must be careful the kind of images we process in our mind for the true pictures cannot be different from what comes out of our mouth. And they are the fruits we reap and eat every day of our life.

POSITIVE SELF IMAGE
A healthy thought produces a healthy mind and a healthy mind produces a transformed personality or what I call positive self image.

Without knowing it most of the times we see ourselves caught up in the web of negative self image, where we struggle to accept almost nothing about our uniqueness and originality. We struggle to accept our height, stature, and physic, and complexion, social and cultural back grounds. Instead of recognizing who we are and God’s purpose for our lives, instead of discovering and accepting our God given talents, abilities and gifts and seeking to improve on them in order to fulfill our purposes and callings, we keep struggling ignorantly in fear and dejection trying to be who and what we are not meant to be by God.

Listen to the story of a certain young professor’s encounter with an illiterate fisherman. One day, this young professor was going home and had to cross a mighty ocean by the help of an illiterate fisherman who sometimes paddles his canoe across the ocean to make ends meet.

In those days there were no ferries or better boats to take passengers across the ocean, so this professor had no option than to enter the fisherman’s canoe. As they started the journey, the young professor looked at the illiterate fisherman and said “young man, do you know Psychology??“I’ve never heard about Psychology sir?replied the fisherman. The professor asked again “what about sociology??“No?replied the fisherman. “What about Anthropology and philosophy??“Sir I’ve told you that I don’t know anything about these –‘ologies?you are asking about?the professor shook his head in utter surprise and said “O God how can somebody be this much illiterate in life, that he doesn’t know Psychology, sociology, Anthropology and philosophy??

It was then the fisherman said to the young professor “sir I remember there are two-‘ologies?I know, that you don’t know, but I will tell you more when get to the middle of the ocean?the professor was so happy and eager to hear about the “ologies?an illiterate fisherman knows that a professor does not know.

And when they got to the middle of the ocean, the fisherman capsized the canoe and the professor drank water two times and dropped like a stone at the bottom of the ocean, when the water threw him up he was gasping for life and beckoning on the fisherman for help. The fisher man then asked him “sir do you know ‘swimiology??“No!?answered the professor as he went down the second time when he came up again, the fisher man asked him “sir do you know fishiology? The professor said “No!?the fisherman said “O God how can somebody be this much illiterate that he doesn’t know swimiology or fishiology?then he helped the young professor into his canoe and paddled him across.

The lesson here is that even though you may not know psychology, philosophy, or sociology, you can know swimiology and fishiology. We must try to qualify in at least one thing. You are as important in your field as the professor is, in his own field. Both of you need each other so be proud of whom you are and what you positively contribute to mankind.
Some of us as Christians are even struggling to accept who we are in Christ.

Consider the following bible texts
For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength. Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, and not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written,?let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.?1 Cor 1:25-30 (RSV)

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Cor. 5:21 (RSV)

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 (RSV). So if you are a born again Christian, rise up and be who God says you are. Let your self image be molded by the word of God and not by your own negatively perceived inadequacies. But if you are not a born again Christian, realizing your positive self image can begin by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Savior. This is the greatest winning mentality.