A negative thought life leads to nothing but anxiety and depression. It makes us question the truth of who God is and what His Word says.
A negative mindset also causes us to see the worst in others, instead of looking to their better side.
Filling our minds with scriptures to replace those negative thoughts is crucial in overcoming bad thoughts, and bringing every thought that exalts itself against the knowledge of God into the obedience of Christ.
A decade ago, I would have considered myself a positive person. I didn’t really struggle with depression unless I was pregnant.
I looked to the good in others fairly easily, and I was not easily offended.
One thing I’ve learned is that when you allow satan the opportunity, he seeks to corrupt your mind.
It didn’t happen overnight, where I became a negative person. Slowly, over the course of a few years, I started becoming more and more pessimistic.
Life was hard. Our marriage was suffering, my relationship with God was suffering, and I was slowly falling into a life riddled with anxiety and depression.
Our thought life has a big influence on how we are as a person. Proverbs 23:7 says “For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”
How is your thought life?
My negative thoughts go like this:
“Do I have any worth in Christ?”
“I’m a failure. Where is the victory I am supposed to have in Christ?”
“Things will never change.”
“Life will always be hard.”
Hear how those lies and negative thoughts come straight from the devil?? Those things are lies that women believe easily!
Looking forward to the day when the devil is cast away forever and has no more power over Christians.
When faced with negative thoughts, we need to replace those negative thoughts with scripture. There are several other ways that we can deal with negative thoughts.
How To Deal With Negative Thoughts
1.Examine your Thoughts
Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart.”
The first step is to examine our thoughts, to see if they line up with the truth of God’s Word.
If you know the thought to be untrue, refuse to dwell on it.
If you don’t know what the Bible says about that particular thought, go and study your Bible. Pray, and ask God to reveal the truth to you.
The Word of God is living and powerful.
2 Corinthians 10:5 “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
How do we cast down our negative thoughts? I know that it’s easier said than done. A big part is refusing to dwell on it.
We need to take our thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ. This means that if that thought is a lie, we refuse to believe it.
The devil wants us to believe the lies that he puts into our minds. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Examine your thoughts in the light of t God’s Word says, and know if it’s true or false. Don’t trust your feelings. They are fickle.
Trust what the Bible says.
2.Worship and Praise God
Isaiah 61:3 “To console those who mourn in Zion, to give beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…”
Praise is a powerful weapon against the enemy’s attack. Even if you don’t feel like it, start singing worship songs.
Start praising God in your heart, or out loud. Read the psalms, and rejoice in the Lord. Satan flees at the praise and worship of God.
One evening, while I was feeling incredibly depressed and hopeless, I started praising God. The dark cloud of negative thoughts around me lifted, and I was able to rejoice in the Lord.
3.List 5 Things You’re Grateful For
Psalm 9:1 “I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of Your marvelous works.”
A grateful heart does not come by accident. We need to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Start being intentional about searching for the good in your every day.
4.Meditate on Scriptures That Replace Negative Thoughts
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things.”
Replace those thoughts with the truth of God’s Word.
Print out bible verses on index cards, or print out this free download I made for you. Cut them out and place them in places where when negative thoughts hit, you go to that verse and quote it out loud.
5.Choose To Be Joyful
Whether we dwell on our negative thoughts is actually our choice. Every morning, we make a choice whether we realize it or not.
Choose joy, and when negative thoughts want to creep in, fight against it.
Depression and anxiety do not come from God, but rather are a device of Satan.
Prayer is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING when it comes to the fight against a negative thought life. Ask God for help, for He promises to comfort us and guide us, for He is the Good Sheperd.
As a wife and mother, my thought life doesn’t only affect me. It affects my husband somewhat, but it greatly affects my children.
Start your morning with a smile. Let your children know that you are happy to see their faces in the morning. Let your words speak life into them.
Share the things that you are grateful for with them.
Something as simple as saying, “Wow, it’s such a beautiful morning!” or “I am so thankful for the health God has blessed us with,” and “we live in such a peaceful community!”
I love this quote I once read. I don’t know who the author is, but it struck a chord with me.
“Satans target is your mind and his weapon is lies. Fill your mind with God’s Word.”-author unknown
Too often Christians don’t realize the extent of the spiritual battle we are in.
Recognize the war, and do your battling on your knees, with praise and with intentional choices in your thought life.
12 Scriptures To Replace Negative Thoughts
We want to stop dwelling on these negative thoughts, and by memorizing and meditating on scripture. We can change our mindset.
Print out these verses or write them onto index cards. When you are feeling down, you will not feel like opening your bible and searching for the truth.
That’s why it’s vital to be proactive and arm yourself against a future attack.
Lamentations 3:22-23 “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Phillipains 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Romans 8:37 “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
Philippians 4:19 “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Psalm 139:14 “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.”
Galatians 5:1 “stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”
Matthew 10:30-31 “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
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Dwell on the great promises of God instead of the lies of the enemy.
Study the Word, and be renewed by it.
Isaiah 55:11 says “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”
God’s Word never gets sent out to return void! What a rich promise.
A negative thought life leads to nothing but anxiety and depression, but when we are intentional about replacing those thoughts with truth, our mindset will change.
Filling our minds with scriptures to replace those negative thoughts is crucial in overcoming bad thoughts, and bringing every thought that exalts itself against the knowledge of God into the obedience of Christ.
Thank you so much.