Sunday, 25th May, 2025
Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 10: 4-6
Memory Verse: 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. Philippians 4:8 (NLT)
Shall we consider one other thing you need to shut the door of your heart against:
7. NEGATIVE THINKING: Until you know what is responsible for the repeated cycle of your negative thoughts, you may not know how to deal with it. In her book, “Challenging Negative Thoughts Through the Lens of Faith,” Jessica Hottle wrote on “What Influences Our Thought Patterns.” She said: Thought patterns, also known as cognitive patterns, are developed through a combination of genetic, environmental, and experiential factors. They shape how we perceive and interpret the world around us.
Sources of Negative Thoughts Patterns
These examples illustrate how negative thought patterns can distort reality and lead to unnecessary stress, anxiety, and self-doubt. Recognizing these patterns is the first step toward challenging and reframing them to promote a healthier mindset.
A. All-or-Nothing Thinking: John receives feedback on his presentation at work. Despite receiving mostly positive comments, his mind fixates on one minor criticism. He concludes that his entire presentation was a failure, ignoring the aspects that were praised.
B. Fortune Telling: Sarah is invited to a social event but declines because she predicts that she won’t enjoy herself. She convinces herself that everyone will ignore her and that she’ll feel out of place, even though she hasn’t given it a chance.
C. Labelling: After making a mistake at school, Emily tells herself, “I’m such a failure.” She defines her entire identity based on one error, ignoring her past successes and positive qualities.
D. Catastrophizing: Before an important exam, Tom imagines the worst possible outcome: failing the exam, being expelled from school, and never finding a job. These catastrophic thoughts create unnecessary stress and anxiety.
E. Filtering: Despite receiving numerous compliments on her artwork, Maya fixates on one negative comment. She dismisses all the positive feedback and convinces herself that she’s a terrible artist.
Way Out:
I. Mindfulness: This is the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something.
II. Self-reflection.
III. Renewing one’s mind by the Word of God: Focusing on God’s word can help to replace negative thoughts with truth and hope. God’s word is far superior to your thoughts.
IV. Prayers: Bring all thoughts to the obedience of God’s word.
V. Support of trusted individuals.
VI. Trusting God.
Quote: Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life – Proverbs 4:23 (NCV)
Prophetic Decree: Let the fire in the Word plus the Blood of Jesus produce sanity in your thought, in Jesus name.
Prayer Focus
1. I break every evil vicious cycle of repeated thoughts, in Jesus name.
2. I bring every thought to the obedience of Christ, in Jesus name.
3. I receive mighty inner strength of the Holy Spirit to think God’s Word at all times, and in every situation, in Jesus name.
4. Mind demons and Beelzebub spirit perching upon my heart, roast to ashes, in Jesus name.
5. Fire in the Word of God, burn upon the tables of my heart, in Jesus name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Chronicles 23-25
