The dictionary defines Negativity as this:
harmful or bad; not wanted
thinking about the bad qualities of someone or something; thinking that a bad result will happen; not hopeful or optimistic
As I read those definitions, the idea of living a negative lifestyle has become even more convicting. Sometimes when I think of negativity, I just think about having a pessimistic outlook on situations, but I don't necessarily think about how it can effect the way I think about someone, or even myself. How many times a day do you catch yourself thinking a negative thought without even realizing you are even really doing it, and before you know it, the thought process is complete, and that negative thought is already stuck in your head? How many times a day do you catch yourself thinking, "Wow, you know Shirley is really looking like a frumpy mess today." Or, "I bet Robert didn't get that work done that he was supposed to. If that were me, I would've had it done a week ago." I am guilty of it, and I will be the first to admit it. Because of Satan's presence in this world, there has been this sick, twisted, mind game that has been created in which the goal of the game, or in order to come out on top, you have to be better than everyone around you, and the way that you are able to do that is by thinking negatively towards others. You know, making others look and sound bad in your mind, all the while giving yourself an ego boost that is capable of defying the concept of humility and allowing your mind to let you believe that you have come out on top. You begin to feel like you are winning, only to shortly discover that, you, in fact, are a loser. Ever been in that boat? I have. Thinking negatively about others doesn't make you a winner. It doesn't make you any better than anyone else. I have found that I often think negatively of others when I am lacking confidence myself. Again, a sick, twisted way of thinking due to Satan being an active force in this world. The thing is though, that we are all a part of the body of Christ. So what if Joe isn't great at a specific task, the beautiful thing is is that someone is. And where others can't do something, Joe can. 1 Corinthians says this: 12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
I love this verse, because it humbles me when I begin to think negatively about someone. It reminds me that I am not superwoman, or even close for that matter. It reminds me that there is not anyone who is good at everything, rather each person is uniquely gifted by the Spirit, and when we bring our gifts together, we make up the body of Christ, and we are unstoppable!Besides thinking negatively about others, this idea of living in negativity also struck a chord in my heart as I reflected upon my mindset each day. I don't typically wake up in the morning with a smile on my face, devoting the day to positive thinking and happy thoughts, but in reality, I really should. I am the type of person that often thinks of the worse case scenario, long before anything happens, and in most cases, nothing even does happen. I often think negatively about things I do, what others are thinking about me, etc. and to be honest, a negative mind is the ultimate joy-sucker. I often think negative thoughts to save myself from the hurt of being disappointed when something doest go the way I had hoped, or when things don't work out, but that is such a mistake. My morning devo is a book called "The Confident Woman Devotional" by Joyce Meyer, and on negativity, she says this, "Fear is the darkroom where all your negatives are developed, so why not look at the brighter side of life? Why not believe something good is going to happen to you? If you think you are protecting yourself from being disappointed by not expecting anything good, you are mistaken. You are living in disappointment if you are doing that." The thing is, the Lord wants to bless us. He wants good things for us! That is not to say that we won't face trials, and that is not to say that we won't ever be disappointed by certain outcomes or scenarios, but we were not created with the purpose of living each day thinking the worst is going to happen, and if it doesn't, well then we got lucky but we were prepared for the worst. We are told in Jeremiah 29 that the Lord has plans for us. He has plans to prosper us and give us hope and a future. Those words are not simply words written on a page, but they are a promise from the Lord. Why worry and think negatively about each day, when we know for a fact that despite the struggles we may go through, in the end, we will be blessed? Why think of the worst outcomes, when we know that the Lord wants good things for us? If the Lord has promised it, then why not take time to expect good things to happen?
So, what's next? Well, my goal is this: to wake up each morning with a smile on my face, expecting good things to happen and intentionally seeking out the positives in people. Acknowledging the unique gifts each person has been blessed with by the spirit, and rejoicing in the promise that God wants good things for me, and for His kingdom. Be intentional about being a glass half-full type person. Don't allow negativity to steal your joy, because a negative mindset isn't saving you from anything, but the positive promises from the Lord to bless you and allow good things is. Take that promise, ponder it, store it in your mind, and run with it! Expect good things to happen, and rejoice and thank the Lord when they do!
Wishing you a positively blessed week!
