Letting Go of Negativity

 

I could feel it coming but I didn’t know how to stop it.  I was trying to think of something else to say but…oh no…it was coming…the negativity.

I said it without thinking.

I didn’t even really want to say it, but I did.

I didn’t like myself after I said those negative words.  So why did I say them?

Have you ever found yourself in this situation?  Maybe you said something negative or something hurtful.  Something you didn’t mean.  Agreed with someone’s negative comment?  And then immediately you regret what came out of your mouth.

It’s often times too easy to get caught up in negativity.  Have you experienced this?  When we surround ourselves with people who speak negatively and have a negative mindset, we are in danger of letting that consume us and become a part of us.

In Philippians, Paul writes to the Christian believers in the city of Philippi:

Philippians 3:17-18 The Message

Stick with me friends.  Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal.  There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them.

Oh that Paul is a wise man isn’t he?  But too many times I’ve fallen into that trap.  Have you?  I’ve joined in on the gossip, the looks, and the judgment.  It’s the exact opposite of what I should be doing as a follower of Christ.  What kind of example am I setting?

 

 

I shouldn’t be joining in on those negative conversations.  Or passing that judgment.  Or listening to that gossip that may or may not be true.  That is simply Satan weaseling his unwelcome way into my life, my thoughts, and my words.  I don’t know about you, but I DO NOT WANT HIM THERE!  And who am I hurting in the process? Myself and my Heavenly Father.  It is hard.  I know.  It’s often so easy to fall into that trap of letting negativity (gossip, judgment, anger, resentment) consume our lives.  But we also have to be aware that that’s just what he {Satan} wants.

Satan wants us to judge others instead of responding with compassion.  To gossip instead of trying to understand.  To hold resentment instead of forgiving.  To follow him instead of Jesus. 

I don’t know about you, but I’m not letting that happen any longer!

My pastor recently said in one of his sermons that life is not a series of chances, as most people believe, but a series of choices. Jesus did not by chance die on the cross for us.  He chose to die. Why let these negative worldly things hinder our relationship with God and the One who took our place? It is not a chance that we act that way. It is a choice.

So will you make a new choice with me today?

Let us let go of the negativity in our lives.

If there’s something holding you back from a more personal relationship with God, hand it over to Him today.

Let go of that resentment.

Let go of that need to please others.

Let go of the desire to gossip and judge. 

Let go of whatever is standing in your way of a closer relationship with God.

Joining in on someone else’s negative comments isn’t going to make you any more likable. It is only going to make them question, “That’s what a Christian does?”  We want to show love and understanding.  We need to set ourselves a part! If someone has hurt you, if someone has inflicted negativity on your life, strive to forgive them. It won’t be an easy task by any means, but it is the right choice.

Today will you choose love? 

Today will you choose forgiveness? 

Today will you choose Jesus?

Share your thoughts with us…

  1. Has there been a time in your life when you felt negativity took over?
  2. How did you deal with it?
  3. How do you show others God’s love?

 

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3 thoughts on “Letting Go of Negativity”

  1. Hey Amanda! Love what you shared here. It’s so hard — but SO worth it! — when we lose the negativity. At the same time, I find myself floundering daily and that’s where grace comes into play. I’m grateful we worship a God who forgives us even when we’re at our most negative!

  2. Sarah-

    It’s definitely something that I struggle with as well! I’m like you, I’m sure glad we worship a God who forgives us for our shortcomings! 🙂

  3. Great post, Amanda. And a great, convicting challenge. I’d gone down more negative paths than I care to admit, but a transformative verse for me was Ps 141:3,

    “Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.”

    There was a powerful connection between my words and my thoughts, and keeping my mouth shut helped me keep my thoughts in line.

    Thank you for sharing!

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