You know those days when life feels like it’s throwing everything at you? When negative thoughts start spiralling, and it feels like everything’s going wrong. I’ve been there, too, but recently, I had an “aha!” moment that I’d love to share with you.
During our Watchtower study on “Conquering fear by trusting in Jehovah,” a particular passage in paragraph 14 struck me:
“In the new world the happiest of times will be here. For men will be lovers of others, lovers of spiritual treasures, modest, humble, praisers of God, obedient to parents, thankful, loyal, having great affection for their families, open to agreement, always speaking well of others, self-controlled, mild, lovers of goodness, trustworthy, yielding, lowly in mind, lovers of God rather than lovers of pleasures, motivated by genuine godly devotion.”
These reworded verses from 2 Timothy 3:1-5 paint such a vivid picture of the future Jehovah promises us. It made me realize that while I’ve always cherished these promises, I haven’t been reflecting on them as deeply as I could, if I’m being honest!
But I have an excuse!
The Challenge of Staying Positive
Let’s be honest: it’s not easy to keep our minds focused on these beautiful promises. Our days are packed with work, family responsibilities, meetings, and ministry. We’re living in challenging times, and our imperfect minds tend to dwell on the negative. Sometimes, just getting through the day feels like an accomplishment.
Among all of these, where could I possibly fit a time for actively reflecting on the better future?
Like I told you. I have many excuses! But..
…What if we could train our thoughts to focus on the incredible future Jehovah has in store for us instead of being trapped by negativity?
While our brains may be naturally inclined towards negativity, it is possible to train ourselves to think more positively.
Practical Steps to Focus on Promises Future
I’ve come up with a couple of exercises to help us shift our focus:
- Thought Swap
Next time, when a negative thought creeps in, imagine hitting ‘pause’ and ‘changing the channel’ to a positive image of the hopeful future Jehovah has promised. Picture yourself in a peaceful garden or surrounded by loving friends in the new world. Try to hold onto this good thought whenever negativity surfaces.
- Future Memories
Start a journal of specific, happy scenarios you’re looking forward to in the new world. Be detailed – describe spending time with animals, learning new skills, or whatever brings you joy. Make it into a project and fill an entire notebook with these positive, joyful scenarios, pictures, and thoughts about the new world. The more detailed and creative you get, the more vivid your “Future Memories” will become.
When you’re feeling down, flip through this notebook for a preview of the blessings to come. It’s like creating a scrapbook of the wonderful future Jehovah has in store for us!
To help us get started, I’ve created a little bundle with wall art, a greeting card, a phone wallpaper, and a shareable graphic. I hope these give you a spiritual boost when you need it most. You could even use some of these in your Future Memories project notebook! In the new world the happiest of times will be here.
Let’s Embrace a Future-Focused Mindset
Why let negativity run the show when we can choose to dwell on a future full of love, kindness, and all the wonderful things Jehovah has promised?
I’m ready to make an active effort to focus on “the new world, the happiest of times.” Are you with me on this journey?
I’d love to hear how it goes for you and what strategies help you stay positive. Share your experiences, and let’s embrace the joy of Jehovah’s promises.
Catch you later! 😊
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