I was planning out my month the other day and as I looked at the calendar I realized there are a good many hurdles ahead of me for the year. Immediately I felt overwhelmed and had to take a deep breath as anxiety worked hard to steal my confidence. I began doubting my ability to deliver the tasks at hand. My mind was then paralyzed from any constructive thought or action.
Later that morning I met with a friend who began sharing with me some books she had read on positive thinking and even lent me one of them. She’s a highly accomplished individual so I quickly began reading, trying to tap into any insights and encouragement I could find. The principles they taught had a great deal of wisdom behind them. I began applying some of it immediately and was amazed to find how much more I was able to accomplish.
This got me thinking about the many arguments I’ve heard in the past that such practices are “new age” and should be avoided. Is “positive thinking” really unbiblical – especially if we focus it on God and the work he wants to accomplish through us?
So I began flipping through the Bible, looking at the ways that God communicated action to his children. The first to stand out to me was God’s promise to Abram, “I will make you a great nation and I will bless you.” Strong words are given here. He didn’t say, “My plan or goal may be to bless you.” Nope – he use strong and positive wording.
In Joshua God tells him numerous times to be “strong and courageous.” God is going with him and will make him successful – and he was. Joshua was able to lead the Israelites into the promise land that had been promised to them. God didn’t send Joshua off into battle with a, “Hope you don’t get scared. It’s a great piece of property if you win.” God basically gave Joshua a mantra to quote in his head as he rushed into battle, “Be strong. Be courageous. God will make me successful.”
These were only a couple of the Old Testament examples and then I looked to Jesus’ words and found it too was full of positive commands. To summarize a few - love God and you shall not perish (John 3:16); pick up your mat and walk (John 5:8); love one another (John 13:34); whoever has faith in Jesus will do even greater things (John 14:12); remain in him and you’ll bear much fruit (John 15); he is with you always (Mat. 28:20). There was no weak, “hope it turns out all right,” talk.
Now there is a time for correction and there are many where God rebuked man. However, when God called them to action he used strong and affirming words leaving no room for doubt. He is God. He will do what he says. We just have to believe it – so think it.
God doesn’t set us up for failure. Doubt and criticism are tools the enemy uses to stall us into stalemate and disobedience. When Peter walked on water Jesus told him, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” It takes courage to follow our powerful God because he doesn’t just ask us to follow behind him, he’s asked us to join him.
God is a God of positive thinking. When he calls us into action, he doesn’t do so by telling us what we “can’t” do. He calls into his work but sharing what he can do and what we will do if we allow him to do it through us.
Next time you’re plagued with negative thoughts, stop immediately, refocus on God and pray for him to empower you with his positive thinking.
Do you ever struggle with negative thoughts?
How do you deal with them?
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