REIN IN THE NEGATIVE ATTITUDES

You are the only source of control over your thoughts and attitudes, and you can make a decision to be joyful always. Being the author of your emotions means that no one on earth can cause you to feel angry, or sad, or insecure, or fearful. If you repeatedly have negative feelings in reaction to certain people or certain conditions, only you can change your responses. You literally must rein in the negative attitude or emotion. When the negative attitude or emotion is under control, it becomes easy to manifest joy.

It may seem unreasonable that God expects us to be joyful always (Philippians 4:4). However, joy is a powerful emotion that causes the physical body to produce antibiotics, pain killers, and other hormonal substances. We may not be joyful about the specific circumstance, nonetheless, we can find a context for it within which to be joyful. For example, if you just learned that your employment position is being outsourced, you can decide to be joyful about the new position that God is leading you toward. There always is a methodology for doing what God commands us to do.