Are Negative Thoughts Ruling Your Day? Part 2
- Sarah Velotta
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
In my last post, I had planned to write about three ways to fight off negative thinking. But once I got going, I found the first hack gave plenty of content for one post. If you didn’t get to read the last one, it’s linked at the bottom. I wrote about using the sword of truth, God’s Word, to fight off negative thinking. I have two more ideas floating around to share with you as we all strive to give negative thoughts the boot. I’ll share one in this post, and one next time.
Negative-Thought-Slaying Hack #2
An Attitude of Gratitude
My co-workers, our students at school, and my family all probably get tired of me saying, “You can’t be anxious and grateful at the same time!” But that sentence has changed the way I think and I hope it makes a profound impact on all of them (and you) as well. I came across an article a few years ago (linked at the end) explaining this concept. While I’m not quite smart enough yet to fully explain it, what I do understand is that the same part of our brain that thinks anxious thoughts is the same part of our brain that ponders thoughts of gratitude. And it can’t physically do both at the same time.
I find this brain science so intriguing. I’ve tried to use it to my advantage when I’m sad, angry, disappointed, or just in a funk. I’ve found it to be true. Writing a thank-you note to someone completely changes my mindset. Counting my blessings gives me a reset. Looking around and thanking God for the beauty He has created renews my mind. So it seems that gratitude has a way of conquering negative thinking.
The Science Behind Gratitude
There are many benefits to being grateful, including supporting our physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being. I love this graphic I found below from an article called “The Power of Gratitude” (linked at the end).
Look at all of those benefits. Why would anyone not want to live with an attitude of gratitude? I don’t think it’s that we don’t want to live that way. I think it’s just that we forget. We get busy, overwhelmed, hyper-focused, and we forget how important it is to pause and count our blessings.
The Bible Behind Gratitude
According to one of my favorite Bible Study tools, Blue Letter Bible, the words “give thanks” appear 80 times in the Bible. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 is pretty clear about this command. It says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Did you see that? We are constantly asking what God’s will is for our lives. It’s spelled out for us: 1) Rejoice always; 2) Pray continually; 3) Give thanks in all circumstances (emphasis mine).
That word A-L-L is a hard pill to swallow. Does he really want us to give thanks when we’ve had a horrible day? Yes! All means all! Does he really want us to give thanks when we receive unexpected news from the doctor? Yes. All means all. Does he really want us to give thanks when that family member or co-worker is on our very last nerve? You see where this is going, right? We are to have a heart of gratitude in all situations.
He didn’t tell us it would be easy, but the hard part of that can be a blessing as well. It show us we can’t, but we belong to someone great who can. There are days when it’s just not in me. But it’s in Him, and He will help us overcome. He just wants us to ask for help!
There are so many more scriptures about giving thanks and having a heart of gratitude. Jesus modelled gratitude on several occasions. Below are just a few examples:
He gave thanks for the loaves and fish that were supplied and multiplied to feed the 4,000 plus. (Matthew 15:36)
He looked up and thanked his Father after raising Lazarus from the dead. (John 11:41)
He gave thanks before breaking the bread at the Last Supper. (Matthew 26:26)
In Luke 17, he emphasized the importance of giving thanks by telling of only one of ten lepers who returned to give him thanks after being healed.
If Jesus modelled it, who can argue with it, right? In the secular world, many talk about showing gratitude towards family, friends, co-workers, or others we come in contact with. This is such a good practice, but as believers, let us not forget to give thanks first to the One who is responsible for all the good in our lives. We are reminded of this in James 1:17:
“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes].” (AMP)
It is all from Him and because of Him. To Him be all the glory!
Writing it Down
When I researched the benefits of writing down what we’re grateful for, I found that doing this regularly can:
Rewire your brain
Enhance mood and motivation
Reduce stress and anxiety
Shift the brain from fear to a state of calm and resilience
Fosters trust and connectivity
A few years ago, I happened upon Ann Voskamp when listening to a podcast. Her calming voice and soft-spoken words drew me in immediately. She was speaking on her experiences with tragedy and how she overcame them by journaling what she was grateful for. If you’re interested, you can read more about her story in her book, One Thousand Gifts.
While trudging through a very dark valley in her life, a friend challenged her to make a list of 1,000 gifts from God in order to help her develop a heart of gratitude. Ann took on the challenge, and it became life-changing enough for her to write an entire book about it. I’ve picked up this practice and write at least 10 things I’m grateful for each morning. I’ll start with #732 in the morning, and I’ve learned that this really helps me get my heart right as I start my day.
I had the opportunity to hear Ann Voskamp speak at Bellevue Baptist back in September. I looked back at the notes I took and found a few treasures:
“The enemy flees in the face of thanksgiving.”
“Gratitude journaling is revisiting the activity.”
“Giving thanks is giving us a new brain.”
“When we practice gratitude, we downgrade stress.”
“Fear can’t live where real gratitude reigns.” (I love that one!)
“When I advertise my stress, I am showing how I feel about the ‘unreliability’ of God.” (Ouch! That one hurts!)
“Thanksgiving multiplies your not enough into more than enough.”
While we’re talking about gratitude, I’m grateful the Lord has inspired Ann Voskamp to write about her experiences and share her wisdom (from God) on giving thanks. I really like this Ann chick and feel we could be pretty good friends.
Speaking of friends, I have a real-life friend, Jodie Bivens, who has also written a book on journaling what she’s thankful for. It started with her word for the year in 2022: treasure. For 365 days in 2022, Jodie spent each day looking for tiny treasures and then wrote them down at night. Because her experience was so impactful, she wrote a book called Tiny Treasures to help others look for these treasures throughout their day. Jodie wrote in her introduction, “After a year of writing in my journal, a dream I had always carried started to emerge out of the shadows- to write a devotional book. These devotionals are just highlights of the tiny treasures I found that might bring you inspiration to find the tiny treasures of your day.”
Jodie’s book is a great way help you start having an attitude of gratitude. And I have incredible news for you! You can have it in your hands in a matter of days. She’s on Amazon!!! (See the link at the end to order her book.)
The Heart of the Matter
I don’t want you to get caught up in “tasks” you “have to” do to destroy your negative thinking. This all goes back to our heart. We do need to guard our hearts from negativity and cultivate a heart that fosters and nurtures gratitude. I believe this starts with prayer- thanking God for who He is and for all of His provisions. We need to ask Him to help us look for the good and live in more of a state of thanksgiving. You don’t have to journal if that’s not your thing. But I would challenge you to see what happens when you start to spend more time thanking God for His gifts. They are all around us. Sometimes, we just need to part the “clouds” to see the “sunshine.” It’s always there. And remember, you can’t be anxious and grateful at the same time. Test out this theory and see what you find.
Dear Jesus,
I lift up each and every reader who has read these words about fighting negative thoughts with gratitude. I ask for your blessing and your favor over their lives. When Satan tries to attack with lies and few, I ask you to overwhelm their mind with the sword of truth. Remind them of scripture that will combat the lies. Refocus their mind with the reminder of who you are- Savior, Comforter, Provider, Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, Ever-present Help in times of trouble..
As we wake each morning and lay our heads down each night, flood our hearts and minds with reminders of your goodness! We give you all the glory, honor, and praise for what you have done, for what you are doing, and for what you will do, Jesus!
~Amen
Comments