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Flip your thoughts. Find the blessing.

Confession.

I'm a pessimist. 

I don't think that really portrays itself well. I feel most of you would view me as an optimist, or at least somewhat positive, but I have found that if I expect the bad, then I can be more excited when the good happens. But this means I typically expect the not-so-good.

I need a change in attitude.

Confession number 2.

I take things very personally. I love, love, love to be affirmed. It is my love language and oh, how I need it. When I'm not affirmed my brain goes to every negative place and my self esteem plummets. This is so bad that it doesn't necessarily mean people have to say something bad; I can read all kinds of things into the words you DO NOT say. 

God is telling me to stop both of these things. Just stop. And the amazing thing is I can feel my heart changing. Actually changing. Fast. Because I didn't feel like this 24 hours ago :) 

Sunday at church as I was pondering all these things I was hurt by lately, I felt a nudge. "Find your blessing. Flip your thoughts."

Everything I had been hurt by, could be viewed in two ways. The first, which was what was stuck in my brain was the ways such and such a thing had hurt my heart. The second way was the flip; looking at each thing as a blessing instead of a hurt.

It was because of the action (or inaction) that something else was possible. 

What does your life look like? Are you stuck in the negative? Are your feet buried in hurt so deep you can't turn around? Do your thoughts seem to be heading in one direction - and it's a bad one? 

Flip it. Instead of letting the hurt take root, find the blessing. Let THAT take root. What can you now DO because of what you originally perceived as a hurt? How is God now showing up because of something someone else perhaps meant for bad? God can use all situations; what is he trying to show you in this? 

You control your thoughts. Make a conscious effort for them to be positive. Even if you are not affirmed in something, don't assume the lack of affirmation means something negative. It doesn't have to. 

I have used these amazing words before, but they are pertinent always (and I've extended it out a bit!) Philippians 4: 4-9)

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brothers and sisters, 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. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Friends, God didn't design you to focus on the negative, no matter what is going on around you. If you're stuck there; get out. Flip your thoughts. Find the blessing. It's there, I promise you. 


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