Thanksgiving 2017 – Recovery Guide for Depression
• Think a good day. To make a good day, first see it as good in your consciousness. Do not allow any reservations that it will not be good. Events are largely governed by creative thought, so a positive concept of the day will strongly tend to condition the concept to be as imagined. Do you want a good day? Of course you do. Who doesn’t? So why not start every day with a positive statement combined with an attitude that the day is going to be a good day?
• Thank a good day. Give thanks in advance for the good day ahead. Have an attitude of gratitude as you look in the mirror and see your reflection. The Bible says you were made in God’s image, and He makes no mistakes. Your physical, emotional, and personal attributes come from your parents. However, ultimately, you were created by God. Thank and affirm a good day and it will be a good day. In Philippians 4:6 (NIV) it is written: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
• Plan a good day. Specifically and definitely know what you propose to do with the day. Plan your work and work your plan. Good days don’t happen by accident; they require discipline, proper rest, nourishment, and exercise just to sustain the energy to accomplish your plan. Planning takes creativity and thought, which take time and effort, but all are an investment that truly pays dividends. Having a plan is just the beginning. Working a plan requires diligence, persistence, and tenacity. When a day is completed as planned, you will feel a great sense of accomplishment, which will boost your confidence and faith in God. In Proverbs 13:4 (NIV), God tells us, “The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the diligent are fully satisfied.”
• Put good into the day. Put bad thoughts, bad attitudes, and bad actions into a day and the day will take on bad characteristics. Put good thoughts, good attitudes, and good actions into a day and the day will be good. Clear all those bad thoughts from your head by crowding them out with good thoughts. You have the mental capacity for one or the other, but you can’t hold on to both. Yes, you can discuss the pros and cons, you can think about the bad and the good, but only one will be implanted in your mind. So crowd the bad, the negative, and the ugly out with the good, the positive, and the beautiful. Make the decision that all your actions will reflect good.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:15 (NIV), Paul writes: “Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.”
• Pray a good day. Start the day with prayer, thanking God for yesterday and for the great day that just began. Begin each day with that powerful affirmation from Psalms 118:24 (NIV): “This is the day which the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Start the day with prayer and finish it the same way. Then it is bound to be good even if it brings challenging experiences.
• Fill the day with enthusiasm. Give the day all you’ve got and it will give you all it’s got, which will be plenty. Enthusiasm makes a big difference in any relationship or circumstance. It’s truly amazing what happens to the day when you are enthusiastic about your family, job, and life. Enthusiasm is contagious. Who doesn’t like being around someone who is positive and full of life? You can be that person. In Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NIV) are found the words, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.”
Try this today and every morning going for forward and you will be amazed as you develop an attitude of gratitude!
Condensed from Chapter Four “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”