“To be able to enjoy life and avoid unnecessary problems, we must live according to the truth which is found in God's Word and not according to the lies we hear from other people, the world, or the enemy,” writes Joyce Meyer. At a time when many people have come to believe that there are no absolutes and what's true for one person may not be true for another, anyone who claims to know the “truth” is viewed with suspicion. Yet, for the Christian, truth has real meaning and value. Knowing what the standards are gives life structure and guidance so that it does not get out of control.

POWER THOUGHTS is divided into two parts. Part One gives a general overview of the principles that will be used as a foundation for the practical applications in Part Two. In Part One, Meyer reminds us of the many truths that we have learned during our journey but that we often forget when crisis strikes. For example, we can believe that “all things work together for good for those that love the Lord,” but when you're up to your bangs in debt, it may be hard to hang on to that. Or we may agree that behaviors follow thoughts yet find ourselves falling into negative-thinking patterns and wondering why we're behaving so badly. Throughout the chapters, Meyer provides breaks that encourage the reader to “Think About It” by jotting down notes and expressing feelings about what has just been revealed.

Meyer describes her 12-Week Plan as learning to use power thoughts that will “bring your thinking into agreement with God so you can enjoy Him and His good plan for you.” The power thoughts are all scriptural and serve to encourage and lead toward happier and healthier thinking patterns and behaviors. The first one is: I can do whatever I have to do in life through Christ. Imagine the benefits that could come from meditating on that truth for a week. I appreciate the way that Meyer thinks of “meditation” as interacting with information. This effectively takes the Biblical word back from the mystical/cultish connotation it has often taken on.

By memorizing the power thought, leaving it on sticky notes around the house, journaling as the thought begins to take hold in your life, soon the reader will have gained a new weapon in the battle of the mind. Even if you are not dealing with some huge addiction or major disaster, POWER THOUGHTS can be helpful by taking you step by step through some exercises that will definitely improve the way you think and feel. Whether you are depressed, short-tempered, tend to live in the past, fearful, or generally negative, this 12-week study will serve to reinforce your identity as a child of God and empower you to live more like a victor than a victim.