behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person
by changing the way you think.” – Romans 12:2a (NLT)
If we allow our
minds to be shaped by negative thoughts, we are headed toward a life lacking
peace, joy and hope. But, when we humbly admit our need for change and invite
Christ to renew our minds – one thought at a time – we are blessed with the
ability to enjoy life, despite its challenges.
Although it might seem
difficult at first, it is possible to change the way we think if we commit to
these three easy steps…
1. Recognize negative
thoughts.
Each time a negative thought enters your mind, make note of
how you’re feeling. Ask yourself things like: Does this thought help me in any
way? Does it make me happy, or does it steal my peace? Is this a problem God
can’t handle, or am I assuming it’s too big for Him? (Trick question: Nothing is
too big for God!) Is it even true according to God’s Word? Asking God to make us
aware of our negative thoughts is the first step to learning to control
them.
2. Reject negative thoughts.
Once you learn to be aware
of your negative thoughts, you can begin to combat them and fight back. Each
time you notice a negative thought, aim to pause and reject it. Remind yourself
not to focus on the negativity, and instead, try to focus on something positive.
If you’ve decided it’s not really true, don’t allow yourself to entertain it
anymore. If that negative thought is stealing your peace, refuse to give it
power over your joy, peace or happiness, much less your life. Take control of
what you’re thinking, rather than letting your thoughts run rampant. Then, turn
that negative thought around.
3. Replace negative thoughts.
If
something bad happens to us, we don’t have to believe we have a bad life. When
we experience something positive in the morning but have to deal with something
negative in the afternoon, we have the choice to decide whether we’ve had a good
or bad day overall. If someone hurts our feelings, we can forgive and refuse to
let it fester in our thoughts and steal our confidence. If someone insults us,
we can focus on our positive attributes and remember what God’s Word says about
us is most important.
Each time we notice our minds are wandering to a
place where discouragement, sadness, fear, anger or negativity reside, we have
the authority and the power to choose to reject those negative thoughts and
shift them to be more positive.
PRAY: Dear Lord, how I long to break free from
negative thinking and embrace peace and joy and optimism. I invite You to begin
transforming my thought patterns and help me recognize, reject and replace
thoughts that are not pleasing to You.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
[written by Tracie Miles]
