The way that we think can start to dictate our lives. If we allow negative thought patterns to take over our minds, then our experience of each day will become clouded. When you expect the worst, you get it, or the anticipation of something bad happening ruins your day anyway. God doesn’t want us to live like that. Philippians 4:8 instructs us ‘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’ (NIV). We may have read those words before, but take the chance to really examine them. They form a guide to help rewire our negative brains. For example, we can’t catastrophise if we’re thinking about something lovely. The fact is, God has a great life ready for you. It might not always be the easiest, but it really is a great one. He wants you to enjoy it to the fullest. Jesus said it Himself, that He came so that we can live life ‘to the full’ (John 10:10 NIV). It might not feel like the biggest issue to allow negative thoughts, but those habits start to affect our relationship with God. We may not bother to pray if we’ve already imagined the worst-case scenario to be the truth. And if we’re living in our own truth like that, we miss out on God’s. We won’t be available to take hold of the very best that He’s offering to us. Romans 8:28 tells us that ‘all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose’ (NKJV). Let’s remind ourselves of that constantly, and start to think and live with that as our real truth.

What Now?

Read Philippians 4:8. Think of something specific for each of the adjectives listed (something true, something noble, something right, etc.). Write each thing down if you’d like.