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“It is not always possible to do away with negative thinking, but with persistence and practice, one can gain mastery over them so that they do not take the upper hand.” ― Stephen Richards
In Zechariah, we learn God hates evil thoughts. Why is this? Because bad thoughts lead to evil actions. Evil actions are designed to injure and destroy other people. In Zechariah 8:17, God asks us to keep our lives simple and honest. He says, “Do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the Lord.”
God wants us to tell the whole truth when we speak. He asks us to do the right thing with one another. He wants us to do it both personally and in our courts. God does not want us to create plans to exploit others unfairly. We shouldn’t plot things that make life hard for others.
What causes people to have bad thoughts? Disturbing views occur from many elements. So, let's start with what we shouldn’t have. Fear brings on negative thinking. But this is what God says about fear: “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you.” God reassures us and helps us during our worries. This Bible verse about fear holds the power to give us peace during the most uncertain of times.
Another emotion that affects our thoughts is tension brought on by stress. So, this is what God says about stress: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present our requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Let us continue since depression is a major cause of negative thinking. So, God even has an answer for that, too. He said, “Give all your worries and cares to Him because He cares about us.” When we feel crushed by misery and afraid that it may never cease, we must remember God's word in Isaiah 41:10, “Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God.
We can continue, but God has an answer for every emotion we experience.
If our thinking smells bad, we need to seek God out immediately. Do we want to think negatively when God has asked us to think otherwise?
Negative thinkers affect not only themselves but also the people they are around. Focusing on negative thoughts leads to decreased motivation, even to the point of making us feel helpless. When we have imperfect recollections, lousy criticism, and bad feelings, it turns into destructive emotions.
When we live in a world of negativity, it affects how others see us. Do we want our relationships to improve, then start by removing our pessimistic ways of what we say, how we feel, and how we act? Not only do we always see things wrong with others, but we also see things wrong with ourselves. This motion must be eradicated because it affects us from the inside out. We will have little success in life, always be stressed out, and will blame others for our inability to move forward.
And here is something else that often occurs. If we do not think clearly, we miss many opportunities to give God the glory He deserves. This happens when our thoughts are in the wrong place.
And how can we possibly serve God with a negative attitude? How can we talk to others about Jesus if we are in a foul mood? How can we let God’s light shine if every action reflects our negative thoughts?
We do not want to be servants whose thinking is dirty, unpleasant, and tainted. Instead, when meeting with others to share Jesus with them, we want to have a pure, appealing, and virtuous demeanor.
If we want to get rid of our “Stinking Thinking,” then we need to follow what Paul instructed us to do: think positively.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, as we continue to praise and we honor you, and we continue to see your help. Please help us with the way that we think because the way we think affects the way that we speak and act. And Lord, we want to always be in a place where we represent you. So let us always reflect on the goodness of who You are instead of the bad things that happen in this world. It is in your name we pray, amen!
Philippians 4:8 And now, brothers, as I close this letter, let me say this one more thing: Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about.
By: Elder Tyrone Clark
