By: Jenifer Metzger
obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5
For the most part, I consider my self a positive person. I try to look at life through the glass half full lens. But there are certain situations where I find myself being more of a pessimist.
I wanted a latte from the coffee shop, but when pulling into the parking lot I see a long line. Aggravated and thinking it will take forever, I thought forget it and left. Even though I had plenty of time to wait if the line took longer than normal, which it may have gone quickly, I missed out on something I had been wanting because of a glass half empty view.
My husband and I like to spend Friday evenings at the lake. One night a week away just the two of us is amazing! But every Saturday evening I head home dreading the mess my children have left me. Even though they are young adults, I am sure I will find a mess. Instead of enjoying the drive and thinking over the memories made, I let irritation creep in.
It is so easy to live in negativity. We look at situations around us and think the worst. We look at people around us and assume the worst. But living in the negativity can wear a person down! It is exhausting! What if instead of living in negativity, we took our thoughts captive by thinking on excellent and praiseworthy things?
When a thought crosses our mind, instead of holding it up through a glass half empty lens, we should hold it up to what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. When a situation occurs, instead of letting aggravation set in or anxiousness take over, we should hold it up to what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable.
When we think of what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable, we set our minds and our hearts up to think positive. We set a gage by which to measure everything and we learn to look at life through a positive glass half full lens, but we also learn that those things we cannot change, we can still take to God in prayer.
The next time negativity rears its ugly head, whether it is something as small as a coffee shop line or something important, repeat Philippians 4:8 and think on what is excellent and praiseworthy.
Oh my! I was just driving home from a pick-up and called out to God asking for His forgiveness for the feelings I am having towards certain people in my life, for the way my church is handling those of us who cannot attend due to Covid and our immune-compromised systems, and the way I am feeling about myself. And here you are!! Thank you, thank you. Praising God for His perfect Light.
ReplyDeletehttps://beingwoven.org/2021/07/25/for-who-is-god/
It's so easy to let negativity creep in or only see the bad and not the good. We need to deliberately change our focus.
ReplyDeleteI wrote this week about battling anger, frustration, and impatience: https://barbaraleeharper.com/2021/07/25/battling-anger-frustration-and-impatience/.