Negative thoughts are often the root of many problems. They can be a form of self-hatred, and can lead to negative emotions such as anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.
If you have a lot of negative thoughts, it can be difficult to break the cycle. To start changing your thoughts, try the following tips:
– Track Your Thoughts.
Though, It can be hard to keep track of your thoughts as they come and go, you may even just find it hard to remember what you were thinking about a few minutes ago.
One good way you can track your negative thoughts is by writing down the negative thoughts that come to your mind, and track how often they happen. This can help you identify the patterns in your thinking and make changes to eliminate them.
Also, ask yourself how you feel about the thought. Is the thought making you feel happy, sad, angry, or frustrated?
Ask yourself why you are thinking the thought. Is it based on something that has happened recently? Is it something you have heard or read?
Take a step back and consider the thought objectively. Is it true? Is it helpful or harmful?
– Practice Mindfulness
What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness is a practice that has been around for centuries and has recently been gaining in popularity. Mindfulness is a way of paying attention to what is happening in the present moment, without judgment. It can be practiced with any activity, such as walking, eating, or resting.
Mindfulness is a practice that has been shown to help you focus and regulate your thoughts. Here are five steps to practicing mindfulness:
1. Find a comfortable spot to sit or stand in.
2. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths in and out.
3. Scan your body and focus on your breath.
4. When your mind wanders, gently bring it back to your breath.
5. Repeat these steps for a few times daily.
There is a growing body of research that suggests that practicing mindfulness can be helpful in avoiding negative thoughts. It can help you to be more aware of your thoughts and to better regulate your emotions.
One study found that mindfulness training was effective in reducing the number of negative thoughts and feelings. Another study found that mindfulness training increased positive emotions and decreases rumination, a habit of dwelling on negative thoughts.
If you are looking to reduce the amount of negative thoughts that come into your head, mindfulness may be a good practice for you.
– Study The Word Of God Daily!
Another good way of getting rid of negative thoughts is to meditate on the Word of God daily as scripture says “Your Word is a lamp to my feet…” With the Word of God stored up in your heart, you will be able to quickly resist evil thoughts and align your thoughts with the Word of God.
For instance, if the thoughts of death crosses your mind, because you are aware that the Scripture says “I shall live, I shall not die..” it will be easy for you to quickly reject the thought and declare what God has said.
Finally, the importance of guarding our heart with all diligence, cannot be underestimated, because indeed it is from our heart that the issues of life proceeds, imagine a heart that thinks evil always, it will only take the mercies of God for such a person not to experience evil in reality.
Therefore, to get rid of negative thoughts, studying the Word of God daily is an essential.
Therefore, you should meditate on the following scriptures, they will help you to align your thoughts with the Word of God
1. Proverbs 17:22KJV “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones”.
Negative Thoughts have nothing good to offer except to make the human spirit unmotivated, frustrated and sapped of emotional strength so flee from it.
2. Proverbs 15:13KJV “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken”.
Sorrow of the heart is one of the products of negative thoughts and it does no good than to render the spirit broken (i.e weighed down, perplexed and perhaps frustrated)
3. Proverbs 12:25KJV “Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad”.
When your heart is weighed down by evil thoughts, and anxiety, arise and speak the Words of God, declare aloud His promises
4. Philippians 4:8KJV
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise”.
whenever your mind starts ruminating on negative thoughts, it is important to take your thoughts through the lens of the bible, are those thoughts true, lovely, admirable or honorable? If they are not, then you must discard them quickly.
5. Collosians 3:1-12KJV
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God”.
In order to control negative thoughts, you must place your mind on issues that concerns the advancement of the kingdom of God as much as possible.
6. 2 Corinthians 10:5KJV
“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled”.
This scripture clearly gives a description of how to handle negative thoughts; cast them down! Or cast them out! And bring all negative thoughts under control, in order to ensure they are in obedience to Christ.
7. Romans 12 :2KJV
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”.
This scripture implies that to prove God’s perfect will, you need to take charge of your thought and align them with the Word of God and not according to the World’s standards.
8. Psalm 19:14KJV
“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer”.
Imagine dwelling on a negative thought and God looks at you and says your thoughts are not acceptable before me. Having the consciousness that God sees your every thought is a factor that will help you to control your every thought. God sees you and your thoughts, and if you know God won’t accept your thought, why accommodate it at all?
9. Psalm 119:148KJV
“Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word”.
A major weapon that can help in fighting negative thoughts is the daily study of the bible and continuous meditation on the Word of God, to overcome negative thoughts, you must apply this weapon of the Word.
10. Jeremiah 29:11KJV
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end”.
Understanding this Scripture is a great deal! When a negative thoughts pops up on your mind, declare that the thoughts of the Lord for you is of good and not of evil, so whatever the negative thought portrays, is definitely not for you, you must reject it! The will of God for you is to be at peace, is for you to end well, and so it shall be in Jesus name. Amen.
