Thousands of comments from our global online tribe have convinced me that more and more Christians are “DEFAULTING TO NEGATIVITY” in their lives, especially in December on the ramp to Christmas.
de·fault | a selection made automatically due to lack or perceived lack of a viable alternative.
ALL of us at one time or another default to negativity and view our LOWS at a lower level than reality. Similarly, we see the HIGHS we get from the “good parts of life” as lower than we think they should be, especially when the initial rush of dopamine tickles our pleasure center and then dances away.
Once we fall prey to being NEGATIVE, it becomes more difficult to reverse that mindset. In fact, that negativity mindset colors our decisions and choices. The only way to counter the negativity is to load God’s POSITIVES into our mind and heart. Unfortunately, many Christians today are spending more time loading their FB feed than they are absorbing God’s positives.
We have a CHOICE–either amplify or mute NEGATIVITY. Making the right choice is far from automatic. We must DISARM Satan and EMPOWER God. The importance of doing that cannot be stressed enough. WHY? Because we have a ruthless and beguiling Enemy who prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).
Only God can help us overcome DEFAULT NEGATIVITY and intercept that devious urge when it peeks into our tent. Here is just a partial list of what he can do to overcome negativity: Take your thoughts CAPTIVE (2 Corinthians 10:5); TRANSFORM your mind (Romans 12:2); Allow God to keep you in perfect PEACE (Isaiah 26:3); and think of things worthy of PRAISE (Philippians 4:8).
To STOP defaulting to being negative, we need the TRUTH that can only be found in GOD’S WORD. The peace of Christ rules in our hearts when his word dwells richly in us (Colossians 3:15–16).
I want to trust God to give me his strength to fight off the urge to default to negativity. To load his positive words into my mind and heart so they shove negativity aside when it wants to take over.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Are you defaulting to negativity this month? What will you do the next time negative thoughts come crashing into your life? Are you ready?
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4–7
