HANDLING NEGATIVE THOUGHTS
| By: Pastor E.A Adeboye |
| Memorise: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Phil 4:8)
Read: Philippians 4:6-8 |
| According to Esther 6:1, there is need to keep records. God is a good record keeper. To be like Him, learn to keep proper records as leaders in God’s house. Imagine what would have happened to Mordecai if his good deed was not recorded! That could have been his end. Talking of record keeping, there are records we should keep and others we should not keep.
The records king Ahasuerus kept were good deeds that people did at different times. Believers are expected to keep records of all good deeds done to them by fellow believers and unbelievers. Why? It will help you to think the best concerning them, especially when they harm you or exhibit a contrary behaviour towards you. Philippians 4:8 says the thoughts and records you should keep and ruminate about other people should be true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy. Never forget any good deed somebody does to you. Never. If you do forget, ask God for the grace to keep such records fresh in your mind. If somebody offends you and Satan gives you several reasons to dwell on that evil deed, try and ask yourself: has this fellow ever done any good to me before? Has the fellow ever been God’s vessel to bless me before? If not to me, has this fellow ever been a blessing to somebody, a family, church or community? If you can answer ‘Yes’ to any of these, dwell on such good thoughts for at least 30 minutes. ‘If the answer is ‘No’, then ask yourself, ‘Is there anything I can appreciate or thank God for in this individual?’ It could be the looks, height, complexion, academic qualification, eloquence, his or her spouse or children, car, or house, etc. After thinking on the good traits, go ahead and thank God for that individual for those things for at least 20 minutes. At the end of the period you will feel better disposed to the fellow. Sometimes if after applying these, the negative thought persists, bind the spirit behind that evil thought and cast it out of your mind. You should shut your mind against every evil thought. Why? Your heart was not designed to think evil. Each time you think evil, you violate the Creator’s code for handling the heart. Your heart is so delicate that you need good thoughts to preserve it to serve you effectively over life’s issues (Prov 4:23). |
| Ask God to uproot cults from tertiary institutions and enthrone Jesus in the minds of students in this nation.
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