being negative

IT’S ALL IN YOUR PERSPECTIVE

For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast (Proverbs 15:15 New Living Translation).

Before I acknowledged my need for Jesus, and recognized who I was in Him, I wasted many years of my life focusing on the negative things in people and in my surroundings. There were times when I would spend all day talking the positive down and wallowing in my sorrows, making mountains out of molehills and bringing down everyone around me. I was never happier unless I was cutting someone up. It’s true; when we feel very badly about ourselves, we talk about other people to make ourselves feel better. My heart was despondent and as the proverb says, every day brought trouble.

Since then, my perspective has changed. The more I study the word of God, the more I realize how much negative and positive words impact our surroundings. Being positive does not mean simply being grateful for all things, but in addition to a grateful heart, it means really looking for the brighter side of every negative. On a cloudy day, we see the bottom of the clouds and perhaps the precipitation they bring, but above the clouds, the sun still shines! Rain or snow may fall, and it may be inconvenient, yet the fruit of rain or snow is moisture to bring forth life from the earth, or fill watering holes. It really is our perspective of things.

Being around despondent people who see the cup half empty all the time can be a huge downer. Negativity weighs us down, literally, and speaking negative things will often manifest them. It’s important to shake off the negative and not receive what has been spoken, and to counter it with the joy of Christ! How, we ask? Speak the word of God! Proclaim and profess it and pray for those who are enveloped within a veil of pessimism. Not only will it bring the light of Christ into their world, but also strengthens and increases our capacity to love them, along with changing us to better minister to them.

Let’s Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, may You grant us greater capacity to love as You love, to minister as You minister, to give grace as You give grace! Help us to be the light in the dark to those who have a dark perspective, grant us courage and boldness to bring joy and laughter to them. Father, we thank You for the joy of Your presence; may we carry it with us throughout the day. May the fragrance of Christ surround us, and may Your Holy Spirit go before and behind us. You are awesome in all Your ways, we stand before You this day as an offering. Here we are, send us! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Today’s Attitude of Worship: Look for opportunities to see the positive side of all things, no matter what it is, or who it is. Write lists if you need to, and ask the Lord to bring to remembrance Scriptures that will bring joy to your heart.

Additional Scriptures: Psalm 4:7; Psalm 9:2; Psalm 16:11; Proverbs 15:13; Psalm 30:11; Proverbs 2:10; Proverbs 3:13

Shalom,

Prudence