“Peace of Mind – Negative Thoughts”
Sunday, March 19, 2023
Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”
Luke 6:45 (NIV)
“…out of the heart, the mouth speaks.”
Good News Translation – Proverbs 4:23
“Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.”
“No one is more influential in your life than you are, because no one talks to you more than you do.” – Paul David Tripp
Today our focus is on Negative Thoughts!
Are you a negative thinker?
1. Are you quick to find flaws in other people?
2. Do you do most assignments or jobs confidently?
3. Are people more motivated or less motivated after talking to you?
4. How would your friends describe you?
How Does Negative Thinking Impact Our Lives?
First, By Nature, We Are Drawn to Negativity.
Second, Your Life Moves in the Direction of Your Strongest Thoughts.
Romans 8:5-6 (NIV)
“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.”
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”
Third, Negative Thoughts Take on Different Forms.
• Personalizing – “Self-Blame”
• Filtering – “Remove the Positive, Save the Negative”
• Catastrophizing – “Always Anticipating the Worst”
• Polarizing – “It’s 100% Good or 100% Bad”
How Do We Combat Negativity?
I Samuel 30:3-4, 6 David and the Army at Ziklag
When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters.
I Samuel 30:6
But David found strength in the Lord his God.
How? We don’t know exactly what he said or did in this moment, but we have record of what he had done before…
Psalm 103:8 (NIV)
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.”
Psalm 86:15 (NIV)
“But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”
Psalm 145:8 (NIV)
“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.”
Exodus 34:6 (NIV)
And [the Lord] passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness…”
Psalm 86:15 (NIV)
“But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”