As most of my readers know, the last few weeks I have been “teaching” the Daniel Plan at my church. I use quotes around the word “teaching” because I feel that I am learning as much as the other participants in the class.  The Daniel Plan is a great guide for nutrition and fitness while incorporating faith and friends in the mix. But the part of the study that has affected me the most is the emphasis on focus.  Focus is an integral part of the process of becoming healthy in mind, body and spirit but a part we often overlook.

Over the years I have worked with many people wanting to overcome unhealthy habits especially cigarette smoking.  I have talked with patients literally for years about quitting smoking with no results until suddenly something clicks in their mind and they quit.  Often once their mind-set is changed, they are able to quit “cold turkey.”  These are people who have smoked 1-2 packs per day for 20 some years!  They have tried nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges as well as medications such as Zyban or Chantix to no avail.  But when their mind is changed, their habit changes. This never ceases to amaze me. 

The mind is quite powerful.  What we think about can make or break our day, our year and sometimes our life.  Do we fill our mind with positive thoughts or do we dwell on everything negative in our circumstance?  How we look at our world can make all the difference. I often have been surprised by the sheer happiness I’ve seen in the people of Third World countries I have visited. They have nothing in comparison to what we Americans have to be thankful for yet their joy is so much more than I witness on a day-to-day basis here.  There are so many sour, bitter attitudes all over: in the workplace, the grocery, on the road.  It casts a darkness over everything.  We have so much to be thankful for but yet it doesn’t seem to matter.  Perhaps we forget what is really important in our seeking for more “things” in our lives.When material possessions are stripped away, we are forced to look at the daily blessings: food for this day, people who love me, a job to go to. When life is down to the basics, there joy is found.

But this kind of thankfulness and joy don’t just happen. It a choice. “I am thankful today for _______.”  You fill in the blank every day.  Write it down; share it with a friend so it is real. We can turn the negative into positive. We can change old destructive habits if we first change our thoughts.  It must be intentional. “I am going to think these thoughts today.”  Then slowly your focus changes and you are transformed. “Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2) Transformed in the Greek is the word for metamorphosis.  This is not just a little change but a total change like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly. It is biologically still a caterpillar but it is made brand new as it emerges from it’s cocoon. So we can be made brand new when we allow a change in our minds.

This transformation in thinking is a choice but even though I choose to focus differently, I still struggle with this.  I fall back into the same patterns especially if I see negative attitudes in those around me.  I forget that I can ask God to help me with this. I believe He wants to give us help in this area because it is so critical for everything else in our lives.  Why do I not pray about this?  I pray for many other things of much less importance.  Maybe it’s because in my mind I think I can just do this on my own. Not true!  I need God’s help in everything especially in how I think.  As the Apostle Paul said to the Philippians in one of my favorite passages, “…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” 

So I ask the Lord, please help me think upon these important truths. Transform my life by the transforming of my mind so I may become the person you created me to be, healthy and whole.