I have to be honest…I get frustrated when I deal with negative people. I am all about possibilities and what ifs. But there are times when Church Leadership requires we face the very things that frustrate us.
Negativity is a big deal. If it goes unchecked, it spreads like a virus in a third world country. I want to face negativity head on. I want to deal with its attempt to influence God's people and create distractions. I want to call it out and defeat its attempt to confuse our church. I want to get louder about what is positive so that negativity can't be heard. Will you join me to drown out the negativity? There are more with us than against us.
If we are going to defeat negativity, we must better understand its impact:
Negative people suffer from small mindedness
Small mindedness is an attitude that I don't want other people to succeed in life or rise to greatness.
Small mindedness is based on a spirit of comparison and competition.
Small mindedness affects the way you pray, how you esteems other, you walk with Christ.
Small minded people think that there is only enough for them. So they have to control it all and take it all.
Small mindedness stops your capacity to believe God and limits your internal resources.
Negativity always reflects inner defeat
Jesus said, 'For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.' (Matthew 12:34).
You can easily tell the content of a person's heart by listening to the words they speak.
In your day-to-day life do you ever listen to yourself speak?
Do you notice the anxiety you express or the hopelessness you confess?
Negativity will reflect inner defeat. It often lashes out at circumstances, people, the environment or the government or leadership
It may cast blame on a father, mother, leader, boss or spouse.
I believe that in every circumstance negativity is not about any of these things. It is about the individual and what's going on inside.
Negativity always justifies itself
'All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits.' (Proverbs 16:2)
We can generally justify the way we think and act.
There are usually good reasons for us to feel hurt or perhaps victimized, but justifying things won't change anything.
It simply gives us a reason to accept mediocrity or failure.
Negative people draw on negative experiences and build their beliefs and opinions around them. Then they justify their position because of what happened to them.
Positive people are more likely to change themselves to line up with their potential.
Negativity chooses your friends for you
'Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm....' (Proverbs 13:20 NKJV)
Whatever direction your friends are heading in, will have a major influence on your future ... if you allow it.
A person determined to overcome negativity and fulfill their destiny cannot afford to be held back by dead-weight relationships.
Negativity magnifies and distorts the truth
Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad. (Prov 12:25 NKJV)
Anxiety is built on what MIGHT happen.
Negativity and anxiety work closely together.
An anxious or depressed person cannot see straight.
Their perspective on life is blown out of all proportion. Small things seem huge, molehills turn into unbeatable mountains.
If you are looking at the world from a heart full of cynicism and bitterness, your perspective of the truth more than likely, will become magnified and distorted in a destructive way.
Negativity makes sweeping statements and harsh judgments
When King David began to dance with joy and happiness in the midst of a great crowd, his wife Michal watched with disdain.
I am ready to deal with negativity….will you join the army?
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