How to Think Like a Winner

by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

WINNING WITH THE WORD

“Winning with the Word” is a weekly blog that will help you to be a winner in life by applying God’s principles for living the abundant life as found in the Bible, God’s manual for life.

AN INVITATION TO YOU: To follow this blog, click here. 

If this blog has blessed you, please encourage your family and friends to subscribe as well. Thank you!

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Do you prefer listening instead of reading? Then click below to listen to today’s blog post on podcast.

 

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Have you ever wondered why some people are more successful in life than others? Is it a question of so-called “luck”? Or is there something more to this thing called success?

The answer, as always, is found in the Bible. In this best-selling book of all time, God has clearly outlined the principles of success. The problem is that, sad-to-say, most people don’t read the Bible.

Or they read it after the fact. After the problem has arisen and nearly devastated their lives.

Yet, the Bible contains the answer to every single situation you will ever face in life. In fact, the Bible is God’s Manual for Life. It is the book He gave us to navigate our time on this earth successfully. Isn’t it a tragedy that most of the world neglects it?

The Bible is all about winning. Not only winning in this life, but, far more importantly, about winning in the life after this one. The life that will last forever. 

In the Bible, God has set in place certain principles, or laws, that govern success. If we live according to these principles, we will experience a wonderful, blessed life. But if we don’t, we won’t. It’s as simple as that.

So, what are these principles of success? And how can we apply them to our lives?

One of the fundamental principles is found in Proverbs 23: 7: This verse reads as follows: “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”

Let’s unpack this verse to discover what it means and how it can affect the entire course of our lives. 

First of all, this verse clearly connects the way we think in our hearts with the way we are: “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” Note the phrase in his heart. The verse does not simply say as a man thinks, but as he thinks in his heart.

Well, what is meant by the heart

The word heart as used here does not refer to the physical heart, the organ that pumps blood throughout our bodies. No, the word heart as used in this verse implies that intangible entity within us that we all recognize but cannot adequately define.

Yet, the Bible gives us a picture of what this intangible entity called the heart really is.

The heart is that part of us that connects our soul with our spirit. We are made in the image of God, and we have a spirit, a soul, and a body.  Each of these three parts is also made up of three parts. The spirit is made up of the conscience, the intuition, and the imagination. The soul is comprised of the mind, the will, and the emotions. The body is made up of bone, fluid, and soft tissue. 

The heart is the bridge between the spirit and the soul. In other words, the heart is connected simultaneously to the spirit and to the soul. On the one hand, the heart is connected to the conscience part of the spirit. On the other hand, the heart is connected to the emotions, the will, and the mind parts of the soul.

The Bible makes many references to the heart. Each of these references gives us a partial definition of the heart.

For example, in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 9, verse 4, we read this: “And Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, ‘Why are you thinking evil things in your hearts?’”

The act of thinking occurs in the mind. But in this verse, Jesus connected thinking with the heart as well. “Why are you thinking evil things in your hearts?” (Underlining mine). So, from Jesus’ comment, we see, then, that the heart is also involved in our thinking process. In other words, the heart is connected to the mind.

In the Book of Acts, chapter 11, verse 23, we learn that the heart is also connected to the will: “Who, when he arrived and saw the grace of God, rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain with the Lord with purpose of heart.” To purpose means to decide. To decide is a function of the will. When we purpose to do something, we are willing to do something. So this verse shows that the heart is also connected to the will.

In the Gospel of John, chapter 16, verse 22, we read this: “Therefore you also now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and no one takes your joy away from you.” Rejoicing is a function of the emotions, so this verse reveals that the heart is also connected to the emotions. 

Finally, two verses make clear that the heart is connected to the conscience, which is part of the spirit:

Hebrews, chapter 10, verse 22  says this: “Let us come forward to the Holy of Holies with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”

1 John, chapter 3, verse 20, says this: – “For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.”

Condemnation is a function of the conscience. When we do wrong, our conscience condemns or convicts us. In saying that our heart condemns us, this verse makes it clear that our heart is connected to our conscience which is part of the spirit.

In light of all of the above, we see, then, that our heart is that part of us that is connected simultaneously to our mind, our will, our emotions, and our conscience. Our heart thinks; our heart decides; our heart feels; and our heart determines right from wrong.

Our heart is also the door to our entire being. Our heart is the portal whereby we allow God and people into our lives or we shut them out.

So, what does all of this have to do with our original verse: “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he?” On a very basic level, this verse means that what we allow into our hearts through our thoughts, our emotions, our will, or our conscience will affect the course of our lives. Indeed, there is another Scripture verse in the Book of Proverbs, chapter 4, verse 23, that warns us to guard our hearts with all diligence, for out of it come the issues of life. The Good News version translates this verse like this: “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.”

Bottomline, then, whether or not we win at life depends on how we think. If we think according to God’s way of thinking, as found in the Bible, then we will be successful. We will be thinking like a winner and we will win. But if we think contrary to God’s way of thinking as found in the Bible–in other words, if we think the way the world thinks–we will be thinking like a loser and we will lose.

God is the Supreme Winner. If we want to think like a winner and live like a winner, we must learn and put into practice the principles of winning that God has written down for us in His Holy Word. 

In my next post and podcast, I will be talking about how we can control our thinking. There are certain measures we can take to make sure that our thoughts will always lead us to success. So, you won’t want to miss my next post and podcast.

But before I close, I want to tell you that the starting point of winning in life is to know Jesus Christ. 

If you have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, pray this simple prayer with me now:

Lord Jesus, I want to know You. I receive You now as my Savior and Lord. Forgive me of my sin. Cleanse me of all unrighteousness. Give me Your grace to follow you all the days of my life. Thank You for satisfying my need for You. I ask and receive in Your precious Name. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer sincerely, please write to me at drm@maryanndiorio.com. I would like to send you a free e-booklet that will help you get started in your walk with Christ. I also encourage you to get yourself a Bible and read it every single day. The Bible is God’s love letter to you, His manual for your life. In the Bible, God reveals Who He is, and He instructs you how to live.

Finally, ask the Lord to lead you to the church of His choice for you where you can learn about Him and have fellowship and encouragement with other Christ-Followers.

If you are not yet a subscriber to the Winning with the Word blog and podcast, I urge you to click on the link below to subscribe now so you won’t miss a single weekly episode. For those who are listening, the URL is 

https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/w4q0z

For those of you who may not know, I write fiction about many of the issues I deal with in this blog and podcast. I encourage you to visit my website bookstore at maryanndiorio.com/book-table . 

If you have been blessed by this blog and podcast, I encourage you to share them with others. I also invite you to become a Winning with the Word patron on Patreon. As a patron you will enjoy special benefits only for my patrons. Just go to Patreon.com and search for Winning with the Word to join. I would like to thank all of my patrons who are making this podcast possible. We now reach 26 countries all over the world. I could not do this without your help.

Until next time, remember that God loves you just as you are and just where you are and that He will help you to keep on winning with the Word! 

PLEASE TWEET:“How to Think like a Winner” by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio (CLICK TO TWEET)

Please tell your family and friends about “Winning with the Word,” and please pass this post on to them. Thank you!

To subscribe to “Winning with the Word”, click here.

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Now it’s your turn: Do you have additional thoughts on how to think like a winner? Please leave your comment in the Comment Box below. Thank you.

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Photo Source: Image by Arek Socha  from  Pixabay
Reference: https://blog.biblesforamerica.org/what-is-the-heart-in-the-bible/

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Check out these three popular Winning with the Word podcasts below. You may also search for a particular topic in the search box at the top of the sidebar on this page. 

__7 Signs That the Tribulation Is at Hand

__The Dangers of Generation Separation

__Are You Thinking Straight?

__How to Deal with the “New Normal”

__What to Do When Your Child Goes Astray

___Are You a Perfectionist?

__Is the World Coming to an End?

__The Coming Global Cataclysm

 Are you new to this blog? If so, what is the “Winning with the Word” blog and why will it bless you to read it?

“Winning with the Word” is a weekly blog that helps you to deal with the daily problems of life by using the Bible as your guide to solving them. The Word of God will make you a success in life!

AN INVITATION TO YOU: To subscribe to Winning with the Wordclick here.

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Copyright 2000-2021 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be published or printed in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may contact her at info@maryanndiorio.com to request permission.

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How to Conquer Anxiety Once and for All

by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

WINNING WITH THE WORD

“Winning with the Word” is a weekly blog that will help you to be a winner in life by applying God’s principles for living the abundant life as found in the Bible, God’s manual for life.

AN INVITATION TO YOU: To follow this blog, click here. 

If this blog has blessed you, please encourage your family and friends to subscribe as well. Thank you!

______________________________________

 

 

 

Do you prefer listening instead of reading? Then click below to listen to today’s blog post:

 

 

 

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Hello and Happy Day! This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, Novelist and Life Coach, welcoming you to another episode of Winning with the Word. Today is Monday, June 8, 2020. Today’s Podcast is Episode #23 in Series 2020 and is titled “How to Conquer Anxiety Once and for All.”

I recently heard on the news that the use of anti-anxiety and anti-depression drugs has skyrocketed. This news saddened me because we don’t have to depend on drugs to handle anxiety. There is a better way, and I want to share that better way with you today. It is found in the Holy Bible.

The Bible was given to us by God as a manual for life. Sadly, however, most people haven’t read their manual. Then they wonder why their lives are not working right.

You see, we all need instructions for navigating our time here on earth. Sure, we can do things our way, but in the end, our way will fail. Why? 

Because, truth be told, we are not that smart! 🙂

When we think we are smarter than our Maker, we get into all kinds of trouble. And one of them is anxiety.

You see anxiety comes from our failure to trust God and to live according to His commands. Why don’t we trust God? Because we have not taken the time to get to know Him. When we get to know God, we will discover that no one is more trustworthy than He is. In fact, He is perfectly trustworthy, precisely because He is God and, as God, He is perfect.

Sadly, most people today want to be their own god. They don’t want God telling them what to do. As the old Frank Sinatra song goes, they want to do it “their way.”

Are you one of those people? Are you someone who wants to do it your way instead of God’s way? If so, what has that gotten you so far? Has your way given you peace? Freedom from anxiety and fear? Joy and blessings? Or has doing things your way made you anxious, worried, and fearful?

Chances are doing things your way hasn’t gotten you very far, especially during these challenging times when the world seems to be crumbling around us; when you don’t know if you will have enough money to feed your family or to pay your bills; when your heart is filled with anxiety.

So, let me ask you a question. Are you ready to start doing things God’s way? Are you ready to start putting your trust in Him by giving Him your burdens, as He commands us to do in the Bible? Are you willing to surrender your life to Him because He cares for you?

If so, pray this simple prayer with me now:

Lord Jesus, I come to You, just as I am. I’m ready to conquer anxiety once and for all, but I know that I cannot do so without You. So I ask You to come into my life. I receive You as my Savior and my Lord. Thank You for Your peace that passes all understanding. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

If you prayed this simple prayer, please write to me at drmaryann@maryanndiorio.com. I would like to send you a little booklet that will help you get started in your walk with Christ. I also encourage you to get yourself a Bible and read it every single day. The Bible is God’s love letter to you, His manual for your life. In the Bible, God reveals Who He is, and He instructs you how to live.

Finally, ask the Lord to lead you to the church of His choice for you where you can learn about Him and have fellowship and encouragement with other Christ-Followers.

For those of you who may not know, I write fiction about many of the issues I deal with in this blog and podcast. My latest novel, In Black and White, recently won First Place in Historical Fiction in the 2020 Christian Indie Book Awards Contest. It is the page-turning, compelling love story between a white woman and a black man as they face the wrath of family and society in order to preserve their love. This book was written for such a time as this, in which we are facing very serious issues of racism and hatred in our society. To discover the only real answer to racism, get your copy of IN BLACK AND WHITE now at Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Kobo, or other vendors of your choice.  You can Alsop urchase this book at the link below if you are reading this as a blog post. 

  BUY NOW!

 

For additional resources on living the abundant life in Jesus Christ, visit my website at maryanndiorio.com.

If you have been blessed by these messages, I encourage you to share them with others. I also invite you to become a Winning with the Word patron on Patreon. As a patron you will enjoy special benefits only for my patrons. Just go to Patreon.com and search for Winning with the Word to join. I would like to thank all of my patrons who are making this podcast possible. It is now reaching 23 countries throughout the world with the message of the Gospel. I could not do this without you.

Thank you so much for listening. This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, novelist and life coach, reminding you that God loves you just as you are and just where you are, and that He will help you to keep on Winning with the Word.

To subscribe to “Winning with the Word”, click here.

To receive my monthly newsletter, click here.

Listen to the podcast here:

Watch my video on overcoming anxiety here:  https://youtu.be/IFsZTww2_tM

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Now it’s your turn:  “What steps have you taken to overcome perfectionism?”  Please leave your comment in the Comment Box below. Thank you!

PLEASE TWEET: “How to Conquer Anxiety Once and for All” by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio (CLICK TO TWEET)

Please tell your family and friends about “Winning with the Word,” and please pass this post on to them. Thank you!

Check out these three popular Winning with the Word podcasts below. You may also search for a particular topic in the search box at the top of the sidebar on this page. 

__Are You Thinking Straight?

__How to Deal with the “New Normal”

__What to Do When Your Child Goes Astray

__How to Grieve Healthfully

__Are You a Perfectionist?

__Is the World Coming to an End?

__The Coming Global Cataclysm

 Are you new to this blog? If so, what is the “Winning with the Word” blog and why will it bless you to read it?

“Winning with the Word” is a weekly blog that helps you to deal with the daily problems of life by using the Bible as your guide to solving them. The Word of God will make you a success in life!

AN INVITATION TO YOU: To subscribe to Winning with the Word, click here.

_____________________________________________________________

Copyright 2000-2020 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be published or printed in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may contact her at info@maryanndiorio.com to request permission.

Amazon.com Required Disclosure: MaryAnn Diorio is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn