Repel Negativity: Because Eliminating Negative Thoughts is NOT Enough


“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” — Proverbs 4:23

87% of illness is attributed to thoughts (source). Dr. Caroline Leaf goes much deeper into this in her book “Who Switched Off My Brain?”


Easter just passed this weekend. What’s the significance of that for you? Read on (I’ll tell you)

This wasn’t what the piece was going to initially be about, but I kept expanding and God kept redirecting me.

Now we’re here. Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried 2,000 years ago.

We do NOT have to experience the suffering that He did.

He paid the price for US and for OUR sin.

But we WILL experience persecution and bullying or trials and tribulations or struggles and failures or whatever you desire to call it. That means that we WILL experience negative circumstances and situations. What do we do?

You can’t determine what someone says or does to you but you can determine what IT does to you.

The TRUTH is this — you can NOT meditate on truthful thoughts without KNOWING the truth. But it can NOT stop there. You cannot simply know the truth… you must BELIEVE IT.

And the important thing is that we should not just eliminate negative thoughts (because they could return again) but repel them. Here’s how:

REPELLING NEGATIVE THOUGHTS

“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” — 2 Corinthians 10:4–5

Eliminate negative thoughts and lies — meditate on truthful thoughts.

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord , and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither — whatever they do prospers.” — Psalms 1:1–3

SOAP ACRONYM

Scripture

The best way to begin each morning is in the Word. Centering your day on God’s promises and purposes is one of the most valuable things that all of us can do as people.

We are all going to experience trials and tribulations — we will never experience a life free from difficulty.

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” — John 14:6 NIV

The question remains, How can we know God if we do not know His Word? The simple answer is that we can’t.

This is where the second part of SOAP comes into play.

Observation

This is maybe the thing that most of us overlook. When we read books, do we think about what the words are saying and what they mean or do we just read?

What about when we read God’s Word? The best way to begin is simply to do just that — and begin.

There are a great number of resources out there that discuss deeper-level analysis of God’s Word but it’s imperative that we do our diligence upfront so that we know we are reading credible sources.

“For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” — Romans 6:14 NIV

We have a tendency to take the easy way out and read scripture or other things without truly thinking about it at a deep level.

I recommend beginning any reading of scripture with a prayer that your ears will be softened, your eyes will be opened, and your heart will be receptive — let God speak to you.

Application

As the old adage goes, “actions speak louder than words.”

This is true in this situation as well.

“For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light and correction and instruction are the way to life.” — Proverbs 6:23 NIV

It’s one thing to read the Bible and work through certain parts of the Bible but without truly acting on what you read — nothing changes.

Prayer

Faith is NOT a religion — it’s a relationship with our Heavenly Father.

Rick Warren said that the Bible was not meant to be read through — but prayed through.

God so badly desires to speak to you but you must listen.

The best first step here is simply to pray and then sit in silence. Listen for Him. Sense what God is telling you and where God is directing you. He has a PURPOSE for your life.

“As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.” — Proverbs 27:19 NIV

In the darkest points of your life — God is there.

God uses BROKEN people because that glorifies HIM.


TYING IT TOGETHER

There is a story of a dreaming man:

He sees footsteps on the sand as scenes of his life flash before him.

He notices that there are two sets of footsteps and that the Lord is walking with him.

But… he’s discouraged because at his toughest points there are only one set of footsteps.

He says, “Lord, where were you? Why are there only one set of footsteps?”

The Lord responded to him and said, “My child, it was then I carried you.”


God will NOT forsake us. He loves you and wants the life that HE has designed for you. NOT the life you desire for yourself — we see how that worked out.

Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit and sin entered their lives. Childbirth became painful, work became toiling.


GOD’S VISION FOR HUMANITY

What is truly the vision that God has for us as His people?

A blessed life.
A positive marriage and partnership and union.
A life of gratitude.
A healthy life.
Eternal celebration.

I challenge you to truly ask yourself what the purpose of life is — and then go beyond that.

There is nobody that you have ever known that has NEVER died, right?

What does that mean for you? What comes after death on earth?

“People who are obsessed with Jesus aren’t consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else. Obsessed people care more about God’s kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress.” — Francis Chan

“Death is not the end, but the beginning. It is not termination, but promotion. And this we know, because Jesus arose from the dead! We shall indeed be risen again. The perishable shall become imperishable, and the mortal will become immortal on that great day. The resurrection is the key to the mystery of eternity.” — Charles Swindoll

“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” — 1 Corinthians 15:20 NIV

FURTHER SCRIPTURES THAT ELIMINATE NEGATIVITY

(When Joshua was hesitant to cross the Jordan, here is what Moses said to him)

“Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you.” — Deuteronomy 3:22 NIV

(As Moses was leading the Israelites and they needed a place to camp. The Israelites were complaining and were fearful of Pharaoh, Moses responded to them)

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” — Exodus 14:14 NIV

(Paul was writing to the church at Thessalonica and was encouraging them while he also requested their prayer)

“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command.” — 2 Thessalonians 3:3–4 NIV

(Paul writes to the church in Corinth and shares about the importance of the resurrection body)

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” — 1 Corinthians 15:57–58 NIV

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