Keeping a positive attitude isn’t always easy; it requires mental discipline. Let’s face it, 95 percent of what you see and hear on the news today is negative. And while you can’t bury your head in the sand, you must protect your mind against the gravitational pull of negative influences around you. This calls for constantly doing two things: (1) Arresting the wrong thoughts. “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Take your wrong thoughts captive; otherwise, they will take you captive! (2) Activating the right thoughts. “Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things…and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9 NKJV). Knowing that God is in control of your life and that He is directing your steps will enable you to keep a good attitude when you’re faced with things like long lines, bad weather, difficult relationships, illness, trials, and adversities. Your attitude not only affects the quality of your life but also the length of it: Solomon said, “A heart at peace gives life to the body.” “A relaxed attitude lengthens…life” (Proverbs 14:30 TLB). Medical science has proven that people with a strong faith who are diagnosed with terminal illness tend to outlive their prognosis and their predicted life span. So the word for you today is – keep a positive attitude.