DEALING WITH NEGATIVE THOUGHTS - Lillian Deakin

What do we do when we have negative thoughts, feel in two minds about something. It might be a choice we had to make, a mistake we made or a regret about something we did or didn’t do.

Many of the so called hero’s in the Bible felt the same way. Paul himself said “Oh what a wretched man I am. He questioned why he did not always make the right choice.

Romans 7: 15-16 + 19-24

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do this I keep on doing.

Verse 18 For I have the desire to do good but I cannot carry it out.

Verses 22 For I in my innermost being I delight in God’s law

Verse 24 Oh wretched man that I am who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death. Thanks be to God who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Moses Pleads and prays for Israel many times when they disobeyed God when they were in the desert. He stood in the gap for them. When wanted water and came to Moses moaning. When the spies brought a report of what was in the promised land which frightened the people.

Num 14: 2-3 +12 +16

All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron If only we had died in Egypt or in the desert. Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only for us to fall by the sword.

The Lord said I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them.

Then Moses said then the Egyptians will hear about it and say The Lord was not able to bring them into the land he promised them under oath.

Jesus himself was tested in the desert. It is described in Luke 4 : 1-13.

In Gethsemane Math 26: 36 - 39 Jesus is in torment because he knew he was going to the cross to die.

Then Jesus went with his disciple to Gethsemene and he said to them sit here while I go over there and pray.

He prayed my father if it is possible may this cup be taken from me yet not my will but yet not as I will but as you will.

Also it says in Heb12: 2 That Jesus went to the cross for the joy set before him.

For the Joy set before him He endured the cross , scorning the shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

What did these people in the bible do in their situations?

In Rom 7: 25 Paul says

Thanks be to God who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Moses pleaded and prayed for the Isrealites

David who went through so much trouble and hardship. He looked to the Lord.

Ps 121: David looks up to the hills and says where does my help come from. My help comes from the Lord. I will lift my eyes to the Lord. This does not mean literally looking to the hills. Although this may be the place you go to talk intimately with God. God tells us to go into that secret place to talk heart to heart with him.

Math 6: 6-7

When you pray go into your inner room close the door and pray to your father who is unseen.

What do we need to do

I too get these same negative thoughts and feelings. Especially if I feel I have said something harshly or hurt someone in any way. So what can we do? We do not need to beat ourselves up or punish ourselves. We need to look to Jesus to fill us with his love and cleanse us. The Holy Spirit will then guide us into all truth. John 14: 26 -27 and John 16: 13

The Holy Spirit whom the father will send in my name will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you. will guide you into all truth. He will only speak what he hears.

Isn’t it great to have someone to remind you of what has been said and give you prompts about what you need to do in any given situation. This is what the Holy Spirit will do for you.

God has given us several things to help us in times like these.

He has given us the Holy Spirit as our comforter, guide, helper and friend.

God has given his word with the Holy Spirit to helps understand it.

He has given us a deep relationship with himself. We can talk to him any time any place any time. He will help us and answer us.

He has given us reconciliation with himself and forgiveness of sins. He has also called us to rule with him.

2 Tim 2:12. If we endure we will reign with him.

God has placed us in a community of fellow believers. They will help support us, advise us and encourage us in our daily Christian lives. As we share our lives together we grow in our faith knowledge and love of God. We were not meant to live our lives in isolation from other Christians.

God has given us prayer it is a direct line to God we can use any time any place anywhere.

The Holy Spirit reminds us of all that God has said to us to encourage us so we can focus more on God and away from the negative thoughts that pursue us.

I like to listen to Christian songs or sing to encourage myself.

We can take verses from the bible that God has highlighted to us for a particular situation. This has happened to us several times.

We remind ourselves of all that God has done for us. The things he has brought us through. We also need to remember what God has said about us and any prophesies that been said over us.

Reading the word aloud and speaking it to ourselves encourages us. We also need to meditate on a verses that have encouraged us.

We need to remember what God says about us

He says

We are over comers. Greater is he that is in us than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

We shall rule over angels 1 Cor 6 :3

We are Kings and Priests to our God Rev5 :10

God will never leave us or forsake us Heb 13: 5

God said never will I leave you never will I forsake you.

We are the apple of his eye. Zech 2: 8

Rom 8:15-16

The spirit you received does not make you slaves so that you live in fear again. The spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship and by him we cry abba father.

John 16: 33

I have told you these things so that you may have peace. IN this world you will have trouble but take heart I have overcome the world.

Greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world 1 John 4:4

We are the apple of his eye Zech 2: 8

We are adopted as sons and daughters Rom 8: 14

I have overcome the world John 16 :33

We shall reign with him 2 Tim 2:12

Rom 8: 28

We know in all things that God works for good to those who love him For those God fore knew he predestined to be conformed to the image of his son so that he might be the first born of many. Those he predestined he also called those he called he justified those he justified he also glorified.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled do not be afraid.

Psalm 91: 1-2

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the most high will rest in the shadow of the almighty and I will say of the Lord he is my refuge and my fortress my God in whom I trust.