Silence Your Negative Thoughts
Message Summary
What you say to yourself matters. It matters far more than you can imagine because your life is shaped by your thoughts. Many people get stuck in what’s called a Negative Loop. They start the day with negative thinking that is then perpetuated by everyday circumstances viewed through a negative filter. Your life will always move in the direction of your strongest thoughts. This is why you need to think about what you think about. The good news is that you don’t have to be a victim of your thoughts. You can control them. You can learn how to change your thinking so that you will live with a sense of hope and peace.
Negative talk isn’t just a practical problem, it’s a spiritual problem. As a believer, you can set your mind on spiritual things that bring God glory. You can think about things like love, peace, grace, mercy, and kindness. You can focus on treating others like Jesus. You can set your mind on things that honor Christ.
How do other people’s negativity affect you?
Since Sunday’s message, have you caught yourself thinking negativity about yourself?
Consider This
Which part of this message was most impactful for you and why?
What is your self-talk usually like? How does this inner dialogue influence your view of your life?
Pastor John covered 4 categories of negativity. Which are you the most prone to? Explain why?
- Relational Cynicism = It’s a general distrust for people and their motives.
- Negative Filtering = It’s always seeing the worst possible outcome in every possible situation.
- Absolute thinking = It’s all or nothing. Everything is black and white, either all good or all bad.
- Blaming = Those who think in this category believe that they will always be a victim.
Read Romans 8:5-6. What would it look like to have your mind set more often on the desires of the Spirit?
Read 2 Corinthians 10:5. What does this verse teach us about how we should treat our thoughts?
Read Romans 12:1-2. As believers, how are our minds renewed?
Knowing God’s Word helps us fight negativity. Share any of your favorite verses or stories from Scripture that encourage you.
What is your go to verse when you get stuck in the negative loop?
You have power over your thoughts. Talk about ways you can control what you think about this week. How could this change your life?
Moving Forward — Application
Your thoughts have incredible power and you have incredible power over your thoughts. Teach yourself how to replace negative thoughts with godly thoughts.
Meditate on this prayer for the category of negativity that you are most often stuck in:
Cynicism
God, with your help, I choose to “Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort” (Ephesians 4:31). I choose to love others like Jesus, to believe the best about others, and to be kind and compassionate.
Negative filtering
God, with your help “we (I) take every thought captive and make it obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:6). I want your thoughts to be my thoughts. Because you are good, I choose to think about what is good, true, and helpful. I trust you to guard my heart and grant me peace.
Absolute Thinking
God with your help, I choose to “love my neighbor as myself” (Mark 12:33). I choose love over hate. Rather than making a point, I choose to make a difference. Help me to seek understanding through your eyes and with your heart.
Blaming
God, with your help, I will overcome the past with your promises. “7 For the Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid; instead, his Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7). I will own my own choices and choose God’s best for me. I am loved and accepted because I am a child of God.
Find more mental health resources: www.freshwater.church/resources
Listen to the We Bring Life podcast with 3 special episodes on mental health. Find it on any platform you get podcasts.
If you’re using this in a group, spend time praying for each in your areas of negativity.