Eliminating Negative Thinking - Philippians 4:4-9 - Part Two

Eliminating Negative Thinking – Philippians 4:4-9

Part Two

Most regrettably, I must confess negative thinking heretofore has been a perpetual way of life for me.  With Almighty God’s incredible and unending grace within the last few years, I have begun a substantial paradigm shift.  In accordance with Psalm 27:13, I wholeheartedly expect to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Whereas I do believe in an immeasurable and indefinable eternal reward for disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, I no longer expect to wait for the afterlife to receive it.  As the “Giver of every good and perfect gift,” He will impart graciously components of His rewards in this life.  Eliminating negative thinking is a primary step in preparation for receipt of these divine gifts and favor.

Interestingly, some psychologists and psychiatrists posit an unfair expectation of some segments of society that people from poor and oppressed backgrounds are equipped psychically to withstand greater emotional and existential burdens.  A former First Lady of the United States unfortunately remarked, when assessing the challenging conditions of Hurricane Katrina survivors who were living temporarily in the Superdome, they seemed happy as they are used to dealing with rough living.  Her harsh comments indicate that these people could afford experientially to wait for whatever assistance, government or otherwise, they would receive.  After all, they live a simple life with few frills.  Her assumptions allude to the negative thinking, with which many people live as they limit themselves to minimal enjoyments or interests.  Poor and oppressed are afraid to expect anything from life.  It is safer to settle for basic necessities in the cheapest forms as they will not disappoint.  Nevertheless, this outlook stipulates an unfair expectation for poor and oppressed people to accommodate themselves easily to the life’s hardships.

Although many people have surmounted poverty and political oppression, they still linger in the squalor of negative thinking.  Similar to residents of public housing, trailer parks and rural board houses, these people adjust to whatever adverse circumstances arise each day.  They surrender their hopes and dreams to life’s most formidable enemies, fear and negativity.

Writing to his most beloved church in Philippi, Paul offers effective techniques for eliminating negative thinking in this brief passage.  First, he instructs them to Rejoice in the Lord always.”  Music always comforts and empowers; “[it] soothes the savage beast.”  Regardless of any day’s trials and tribulations, the right music can help you overcome them.  Periods of praise and worship encourage us to see our Heavenly Father as awesome and amazing.  As we offer praise with thanksgiving, we realize He is much greater than any obstacles or adversary we face.  However, our praise of Him does not depend upon our circumstances.  It should be equal in good and bad times as He remains unquestionably faithful regardless of our situation or setting.  Hence, Paul directs the Philippian Christians to rejoice all the time whether on days of rain or sunshine.  In the Greek, the word, rejoice, means literally spinning ecstatically irrespective of your surroundings.  Paul reiterates his directive, “I will say it again: Rejoice!”

Second, at the time of Paul’s letter, the Church expected the imminent return and Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Some disciples forewent marriage and other earthly concerns as they relegated them to being essentially and eternally meaningless were the Lord to return within a few years.  As “the Lord is near,” the Philippians were to be gentle and caring with everyone with the objective of winning as many people as possible to the Lord.  They emphasis upon saving souls prevented them from entertaining life’s daily negativity as they looked forward to a joyous eternity.  Actually, it helps sometimes to assess the eternal worth of your problems.  Usually, they pale greatly in comparison with the rewards, rejoicing and righteousness of eternity.

Third, Paul simply and explicitly condemns anxiety and negativity.  “Do not be anxious about anything.”  Below, I offer a few practical techniques for eliminating negative thinking.  Yet, Paul states the fundamental and primary necessity of annihilating negative thinking.  Despite where you began life, you cannot progress toward your dreams and goals if you perpetually entertain and nurse doubt, skepticism and complaints.  That mentality questions God’s character as it indicts His past faithfulness.  Is He really able to assist me as I struggle with today’s major challenge?  Negative thinking disregards the biblical promise of divine provision of every need and our Heavenly Father’s sworn testimony through Jesus Christ that He will never leave or forsake us.  We are not helpless and powerless in any situation.  God does no abandon us like orphans left in a crowded public area without any clue.  As His love is unfailing and His faithfulness unquestionable, we have absolutely no need to be anxious about anything we experience.

“In everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”  Prayer and meditation are the most effective means of eliminating negative thoughts.  A cardinal spiritual discipline, prayer allows us to speak frankly, honestly, freely and openly with our Heavenly Father about our feelings, desires, needs and problems.  We petition Him for wisdom, guidance, peace and resolution.  A victim of perpetual sexual molestation, incest and abuse, Celie, one of the main characters in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple, talks with God about her predicament in a very raw manner.  A colleague once shared his need to swear openly and loudly toward the nighttime heavenly skies in order to ensure God heard him.  Hopefully, we can dispense with religious rituals and other formalities as we pray.  Legalisms about prayer such as the physical posture in which a person prays, the length of the prayer or the order of the wording and requests often detracts significantly from the empowerment and encouragement of this essential spiritual practice.