August 31
Rooting Out Negative Thinking
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. ––Romans 12:2
A recent study by Queen’s University in Canada found that the average person has about six thoughts per minute, which equals roughly 8,640 per day.[1] Even more, statistics suggest that up to 80% of our daily thoughts are negative and 95% are repetitive. This high rate is largely driven by the brain’s natural “negativity bias,” a survival mechanism that constantly scans for threats and problems.[2]
So according to my unofficial calculations, that means we each have about 6,900 negative thoughts opposed to just 1,740 positive ones each day. Yeah, sobering!
It is no wonder, then, that the Apostle Paul frequently emphasized our need to “take every thought captive” (2 Corinthians 10:5) and to focus on “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8). God’s not surprised at our negative thinking biases; He knows what we are thinking, so it’s no secret (that whole omniscient thing).
One of the ways Satan wreaks the most havoc is when we make negative assumptions about others. It’s to our own detriment when we underestimate the enemy’s desires to drive wedges between ourselves and those with whom we are doing life—especially those we love the most (close friends, parents, siblings, spouses, children). It’s the old truism that the ones we love most are the ones who have the potential to hurt us the worst. And one of the primary ways Satan tries to ruin the fellowship of believers is through wrong-headed, negative thinking, or when we assume the worst of a person or a situation.
What happens, then, when we actually start applying the advice Paul gives us in Philippians 4 to dwell on what is right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy? A radical shift occurs—I would go so far as to say it’s one of the strongest tools in our spiritual warfare toolbox: assuming the best in people, rather than the worst. When we apply grace rather than judgment, when we give the benefit of the doubt rather than a negative indictment, it gives the Holy Spirit room to operate. As well, it allows us to disrupt any mid-brain (emotional) reaction in the moment, and instead gives our cerebral cortex (that part of our brain that holds our higher thinking skills) time to kick in instead.
Try this experiment today: pay special attention to your personal interactions (whether at home, work, or running errands) and note just how often your first reaction to a person or situation is negative. If you are like most folks (me included), you are in for a bit of a wake-up call. The antidote to thinking the worst of others, of course, is to invite the Holy Spirit into the moment. Yes, it’s hard; and no, negative thinking doesn’t disappear overnight. However, we all need to start somewhere. As we make the effort to apply the filters of Philippians 4:8, God meets us in our obedience. Grace will grow; you will find yourself keeping a more level head more often in situations where, in the past, you might have jumped to a negative conclusion. Nothing negative comes from trusting the Holy Spirit to help us think more positively!
Father, some days it seems like a raging river of negative thoughts is sweeping me away. Take ahold of me and help me find footing in You so the tide of negativity turns in my life. Help me to see people just as You see them, rather than through my negative filters.
[1] https://www.queensu.ca/gazette/stories/discovery-thought-worms-opens-window-mind
[2] https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/inviting-monkey-tea/201904/negative-thinking-dangerous-addiction