Negative Thinking

DeAnna Willman

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Ephesians 4:31

Welcome back! If you are still with me after the last two posts, then you must be truly committed to becoming healthy in mind, body, and spirit. Congratulations! When I was working for my psychology degree our professors told us on more than one occasion that over 90% of those who ask for help do not really want help. See, the pain one currently is experiencing must become greater than the pain (effort) of change before one will truly work at healing. I am very thankful that you have chosen to continue this journey of healing. I am humbled that you are on this journey with me and you continue to choose to learn more from what God has given me. All glory be to YHWH, our Creator and Healer!

So, last time we took a close look at social media and how it is programmed to continually give forth information and experiences without giving the brain time to process what information came in and before the mind can decide what to do with that information. This is contrary to how God created our brains and minds to work. This leads to overload of information, waste of time, lack of understanding of what is presented and how it truly affects us, and to short circuiting the prefrontal lobe of our brain where we make decisions, delay satisfaction, process and manage our emotions, and more. It also leads to negative thinking. That is our topic for today.

Negative thinking includes but is not limited to: unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, resentment, hatred, contempt, irritation, envy, jealousy, fear (worry, anxiety, stress), hopelessness, depression, feelings of isolation, rejection, disrespect, thoughts of revenge or murder, criticism, judgmental thoughts, victimhood, worst case scenarios, and more. All of these negative thoughts lead to negative chemicals and electromagnetic energy being released across the brain and throughout every cell in the body. When these chemicals and energy are continually released over time, they become toxic and lead to dis-ease.

We know that we choose our thoughts. We have also talked about how the heart is one of the first organs to receive all the chemicals and energy that is released by the brain. With those toxic chemicals and energy, the body begins to experience heart health issues. The next to be gravely affected is the thyroid and adrenal glands. Weight, body temperature, energy levels, ability to persevere in activity and thought, and even blood sugar levels are affected. Then, those chemicals and energy will begin attacking the brain itself and one will experience brain fog, inability to focus, slower recall and slower ability to make decisions, and poor short-term memory become issues for the person. It continues to affect the immune system, respiratory system, reproductive system, endocrine system, digestive system, nervous system, DNA and etc. Nothing within the body will be left untouched by the chemicals and energy of negative thinking.

Perhaps this is why God told us so many times in His word what kind of thoughts to have. First is to think upon that which is true. His word is true. His promises are true. His instructions are true. His acts are true. Every part of our Creator is true. It would do us well to think upon those things that are of, from, and about Him. But we still have the choice as to where we will look for what is true.

Let’s use the analogy of nutrition. The best nutrition comes from what you grow yourself. You put time, energy, and even money into the planting, nurturing, and even the weeding of your garden to ensure a healthy harvest that will feed you and your family. This is the best because you produced it and you would only use the very best seeds, soil, water, and methods to produce this harvest.

The second best source of nutrition would be from others who have done the very same, raising their own gardens, orchards, and animals. You personally know these people and trust that they are giving you their best. However, you do not personally have control over what is sown, grown, and harvested, the condition of the soil, or timing of harvest; so you always take it home and closely inspect everything before ingesting it in any form. You utilize and enjoy what is good and any that is less than true (think disease, bugs, rot, etc) is tossed into the trash.

Then we come to the grocery stores. You shop on the outer perimeter knowing that is where you will find the food that is closest to what it was in nature and with minimal preservation.

The shelves in the middle of the store are always your last resort, knowing that the more processed (and convenient) a product is, the less nutrition it has and more than likely contains things your body will not be able to utilize for its needs.

How is this like our thought life? Well, God told us to start with truth. The ultimate truth is God’s word. So, the best servings of truth you will receive are those you personally study, meditate upon, memorize, pray about, and act upon as you dig into His word and cultivate your relationship with the One who is truth. That is the garden you grow yourself.

The food you obtain from others whom you know, and trust is the teachings, testimonies, experiences, wisdom, challenges, studies, and even modeling of life by those you personally know and trust. You have seen their fruit and know that it is true. Not perfect, but true. You cannot control anything in their lives or about them, but you trust them and know that you can trust what they offer you. However, you still need to take it home and closely examine every bit of it according to the scriptures, as the Bereans did. What is true you will utilize and even model. What is not true, you will dismiss.

The grocery store is the teachers, people, ideas, and beliefs that are outside your inner circle. There is truth there, but you must be discerning. Even the meat, fruit, vegetables, and diary which is closer to nature, can at times have hormones or antibiotics added, be genetically modified, have nutrients removed (pasturized), or be mixed with stuff that is gross and unhealthy (some meats). Just as you would look for the “organic” “grass-fed” “non-gmo” “not biologically altered” “100 percent grass fed” or perhaps even the “kosher” labels on your food, you must be very discerning as to what is being offered by those who claim to be speaking truth. Is their teaching found within and supported by Scripture? Or have they modified, adjusted, mixed, added to or taken away from the truth? If so, it must be left on the shelf and must not be a part of your intake. Look for that which is true.

Finally, there are the middle aisles. The processed, cheaper, convenient foods are where you shop last, if at all. You have to be an avid label reader of each product. What is in it? How will it affect me? Is there anything nourishing about this product, or is it just a bunch of lab-created chemicals that are meaningless when it comes to nutrition? This represents the world. You certainly do not want your thoughts to be molded by and dependent upon the things found in those aisles. You must be extremely discriminating about what you take in from those aisles. You must be a label reader. You will find some things that will provide some minor nutrition, but only by taking the time to be discerning. You must be MINDFUL!

Negative thoughts will always be the opposite of truth. Every one of those I listed above are opposed to the word of God. The fruit of the spirit of God is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. How many of those negative thoughts manifest in the fruit of the spirit? How many can “co-exist” with the fruit of the Spirit? We know that what comes out of a person’s mouth will be out of the overflow of the heart. We know that what we think is physically written upon the heart. So, it comes to reason that what we choose to think upon will determine what kind of fruit will be displayed in our lives. Is your thought life resulting in good fruit or bad fruit? Is your thought life bringing you and others life and blessings, or death and curses? Again, you can CHOOSE.

This week I challenge you to take a look at your spiritual/mental diet. Where are you shopping for your thoughts, beliefs, perspective, and ultimately your health? (thoughts affect the body)

What has been the result of your mental/spiritual shopping and diet? Where are you seeking truth? What shopping habits need to be changed to provide you with “nutrition”? When will you make those changes? Choose you this day…. It’s not just a thought, it’s an action.

Until next time….

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24