Staying Positive in a Negative world.

Negative attitudes have a negative effect on our faith. Life is hard, and it’s even harder with a negative outlook.

The troubles and the sins of this life are troubling for all of us; remember Lot? “For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds” (2Peter 2:8). None of us are immune from the constant barrage of evil, but we must not let it infiltrate our minds and hearts to shipwreck our faith.

Negativity is Normal, and is the default setting of our minds, but we must overcome normal. In the absence of light, darkness prevails. Attitude diseases are just as bad as, and contribute to, the physical diseases of the body. Negativity weakens our faith not strengthen it.

Dealing with negative thoughts is like a WAR for keeping our heart and mind. Negative thoughts are like enemy weeds that creep into the beautiful garden. The gardener must be as a vigilant soldier watching on the wall. How far the weeds come in depends on how well he is watching.

EVIL is no match for good, but good must be ACTIVE. We must take action to keep out the negative. We must face it, not ignore it. Facing it doesn’t mean we have to keep it, nor dwell on it, but we do have to handle it. When the gardener sleeps, the tares keep growing. The negative only needs one chance, being positive must be successful continually. Maybe this is why our Lord told us to be mindful of the current day. “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (Matt 6:34b; see John 11:9). Spiritual warfare requires spiritual weapons (2Cor 10:3-5; Eph 6:11-17). Growing in the Grace and KNOWLEDGE is our strength to ward off these plagues of the mind.

The first of the 7 PLAGUES is PESSIMISM. This is the deadly plague of always looking on the bad side, the difficult side, the listing of all the reasons something can’t be done side. He’s not trying to figure out what is good or right, he’s searching for what’s wrong or how it will go wrong.

The pessimist says, “I can list ten reasons why this is a bad idea.” Why look for ten when one will do? LOL. These folks are on a mission to find fault over virtue. These are the “cup is half empty” people. The “cup is half full” is not the antitheses to this negative idea.

Remembering the overflowing quality of God’s cup is; “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again” (Luke 6:38). As the proverb says, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Prov 23:7a).

Pessimism, defeatism, and the like are often self-fulfilling prophecies. When the pessimist’s forecast comes true, he seems to find joy. The pessimist can’t enjoy the beauty right outside his house because of the specs on the glass.

While this life may be filled with all kind of reasons to give in, and give up, we need to remember the words of our Lord, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth” (Mark 9:23). The way we think things are affect us more than the way things actually are. “There’s a lion in the street” saith the sluggard, (Prov 22:13; 26:13). Maybe there is, but we won’t know till we try.

Here are four strategies when pessimism attacks:

Instead of listing the reasons something can’t be done, direct your mind to the things that can be done. There is always a way. “but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it” (1Cor 10:13b).

Redirect pessimism toward appreciation and gratitude. Remembering the great things God has done is how we ward off pessimism. “Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered” (Psalm 40:5). “My mouth shall tell of thy righteousness, And of thy salvation all the day; For I know not the numbers thereof” (Psalm 71:15).

Reframing the issue may also help with pessimism. Faced with the problem of those preaching to add to his chains, Paul reframed the issue; “but the other proclaim Christ of faction, not sincerely, thinking to raise up affliction for me in my bonds. What then? only that in every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and therein I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice” (Phil 1:17-18).

Finally, keeping your eye on the goal is a great way to stave off pessimism. “Brethren, I could not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:13-14). Regardless of the negative things pressing around us, it won’t change what we ought to do nor where we desire to be, unless we allow it.

The world is a painful place, but “Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations; Knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience” (James 1:2-3).

Agape,

Spencer

This is part one of a series called the 7 PLAGUES of the heart / mind.