EDITORIAL: Positive thinking and prayer
Sun, 12/27/2020 - 9:51am
There is a huge difference between opening people’s eyes to grim reality and wallowing in negativity.
In the former instance, an individual is made aware of a bad situation, but may be objective enough to assess the conditions and make improvements, or at the very least adjust to manage the undesirable state of affairs. In the latter case, an individual is also informed, but in an unproductive and defeatist way that serves to do nothing more than continue a downward spiral of misery.
These two approaches are significant, for they outline perfectly the power of positive thinking.
For centuries spiritualists have preached the merits of positive thought. They were not alone. In medical science, researchers have also pointed to the health benefits of being in good spirits and surrounding oneself with positive support systems. Likewise with religion, this positive attitude is translated into religious belief and faith, which has been proven to bring about miraculous results. Similarly, studies in psychology, sociology, business, communication and several other fields, have all noted that whether one has a positive or a negative attitude impacts significantly on the outcome of any event.
An example of this perspective can be seen in a remarkable area of research into the effects of human stimuli on the structure of water. In essence, the studies, which were carried out by scientific researchers from Russia and Japan and backed by academics from several continents, concluded that “…positive and negative human emotions are the strongest element of influence”. This was proven through trials that found negative thoughts, words and emotions cause distinctly disturbing effects on the structure of water molecules. Conversley, positive thoughts, words and emotions result in beautifully formed water molecules and crystals, as well as increased energy potential in the water.
Interestingly, these results not only show the power of being positive, they also support the idea that prayer/blessings – the perfect example of positive words – can have rejuvenating, healing benefits on our bodies, which are more than 70 per cent water.
Yet, even without this study, prayer – “a solemn request for help or an expression of thanks expressed to God” – should be acknowledged as a powerful medium that brings people closer to the Lord, through whom all things are possible. It is therefore through positive thinking and prayer that man can overcome adversity. Faced as we are presently with serious issues like the novel coronavirus, violent crime and a burdened economy, and constant worries like health and security that concern all mankind, there should be no surprise then that in this Christian society there has been a growing call for persons to “get back to God” and pray for the deliverance of this country.
In light of these revelations, persons should aim to adopt a positive outlook on life at all times and conduct themselves accordingly. They should also avoid sources that seek only to propagate negativity as a daily agenda, for these surely mean you no good and will only bring you down mentally and emotionally.
Through all this, it is also necessary to seek God and have faith in Him. Pray for wisdom and strength to face the trials we all go through and He will walk with us during our times of trouble and lead us into greener pastures.