by Debbie Wicker BCCC
Living Well by Choosing Faith, Positivity, and Praise
In recent blog posts, I’ve explored how to live well in a fallen and chaotic world. We’ve looked closely at how God can transform our emotional health, giving us peace and purpose even when life feels overwhelming.
Dr. M. Scott Peck, in his book The Road Less Traveled, presents a compelling path to emotional and spiritual maturity. He focuses on four key disciplines:
- Love
- Truth
- Delayed Gratification
- Balance
I wholeheartedly agree with Dr. Peck. In previous blog posts, I’ve unpacked these themes and how they can shape our lives. But now, I want to return to where this journey began: Gratitude.
Gratitude to God—both for what He has done and for what He continues to do, often unseen—is the cornerstone of living well.
The Power of Positive Thinking
In 1952, Norman Vincent Peale wrote a groundbreaking book called:
The Power of Positive Thinking: A Practical Guide to Mastering the Problems of Everyday Living
The message of this book aligns deeply with biblical principles: with faith and gratitude, we can live a life of power and peace, regardless of our circumstances.
When we submit ourselves to God and approach Him in praise and thanksgiving, He shows us how to walk through life on His terms. And His way leads to freedom, not limitation.
Submission leads to freedom.
Gratitude leads to joy.
Faith leads to peace.
Is the Glass Half Full?
There’s a familiar question:
“Do you see the glass as half empty or half full?”
Put differently: Are you an optimist or a pessimist?
Dr. Peale would answer: We are called to be optimists through our faith in God.
Faith in a loving, trustworthy God invites us to live in hope, not fear; in gratitude, not complaint.
We are not called to focus on everything that’s wrong with the world. Instead, we are invited to focus on everything that is right in God.
The Psalmist reminds us:
“Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.
Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil…”
—Psalm 141:3–4
And again:
“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
—Psalm 19:14
These verses call us to monitor our thoughts and words—and to choose praise over pessimism, trust over doubt, and gratitude over resentment.
Transformation Through Gratitude
God’s transformative power is real. While we can’t control what happens to us in life, we can control our response.
We can surrender to God daily—in repentance, submission, and gratitude.
Choosing to trust His goodness even when life is hard.
We can ask Him to renew our minds and guard our hearts.
Through God’s Spirit, we can live a balanced and emotionally healthy life, even in the midst of chaos.
Final Thought: Choose Gratitude
The world is filled with negativity, fear, and anger. But as followers of Christ, we are called to a higher path—a road less traveled.
We are called to live in gratitude,
to see the glass as half full,
and to praise God for all that He is doing—both seen and unseen.
Let your heart return to gratitude.
That’s where healing begins.
That’s where joy begins.
That’s where living well truly starts.
🌍 Living Well in a Fallen and Evil World
Even in a world marked by sin, suffering, and brokenness, God calls us to live with faith, purpose, and love. Discover how biblical truth, delayed gratification, and spiritual resilience can help you thrive in the midst of life’s trials.
👉 Read More »
About the Author
Debbie Wicker is a Board Certified Christian Counselor who brings a thoughtful mental health perspective to the study of the Bible. With more than 15 years of counseling experience, Debbie helps individuals understand Scripture not only spiritually, but emotionally and psychologically as well.
Before entering counseling, Debbie was a partner in a Big 8 public accounting firm, where she built a successful career in management consulting. After a mid-life career change, she felt called to integrate faith and mental health — equipping others to grow spiritually while addressing real-life struggles with wisdom and compassion.
Through the-Bible.net, Debbie writes to help readers better understand God’s Word, human nature, and the transforming power of Christ.