By Andrea Merrell
Be thankful in all circumstances,
for this is God’s will for you who belong to
Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT
I’ve come a long
way, but I still have a long way to go. With a melancholy temperament and an
unrealistic tendency toward perfectionism, my immediate response to a situation
has always been to see the negative side first. The what ifs. The could bes. It’s
a natural response.
But I’ve learned
that negativity is part of a gang. The other thugs are fear, worry, doubt,
anxiety, stress, depression, and hopelessness. When we’re unaware and our guard
is down, they can beat us up pretty bad. That’s why it’s so important to be vigilant,
alert to the schemes of the Enemy, and spiritually armed.
It took me a long
time to learn how to avoid this gang, and it’s not a case of fighting fire with
fire. Just the opposite. It’s a simple matter of being thankful. In Jesus
Calling, Sarah Young writes, “A grateful heart protects you from negative
thinking.”
Too many times we
don’t realize how much we have to be thankful for. But if we take the time to
think about it, we find more reasons than we can count.
I’ve learned that
grumbling and complaining get me nowhere—except in an even more negative frame
of mind. But when I keep my mind and heart focused on the Lord and rehearse His
goodness in my life, my heart and my lips overflow with praise and
thanksgiving. That’s when I know I’m truly blessed.
Take a moment and
think back on all God has done for you. Look around you at the blessings He
pours out each day—big and small. Maybe it’s time to change your mindset.
Go ahead. Try it. Make a choice to be grateful in 2020, and watch your negatives turn into positives. It’s easier than you think.
Wishing you a blessed, prosperous, and Jesus-filled New Year!
Go ahead. Try it. Make a choice to be grateful in 2020, and watch your negatives turn into positives. It’s easier than you think.
Wishing you a blessed, prosperous, and Jesus-filled New Year!
