NEGATIVITY: WHAT'S YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH IT?

GUEST BLOGGER FOR LIFE PURPOSE COACHING CENTERS INTERNATIONAL®: DR. JOHN FERNANDEZ, LIFE PURPOSE COACH® Are you a glass-half-full or glass-half-empty person? Personality does have an impact on how an individual responds, but we should emphasize that the Word of God should have a greater impact than personality. We see negative responses quite often in our dealings with others. Sometimes we may “inadvertently” utter a negative response ourselves. But what is a negative response or negativity anyway? We get a clue about this from many scriptures; for example, Philippians 2:14-16 says: “Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.” Notice that it says “do all things” not “most things” or “some things.” Paul also tells us in Ephesians 4:29: “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” I think these are amazing verses that call for heroic responses from us. While still on this earth we can’t always be 100% vigilant over our words and attitudes; we need a better approach. Ezekiel 36-26a gives us the answer: “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you.” We then learn from Galatians 5:22-23 that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” As a Christian, we have the power of the Holy Spirit to resist negativity and respond with the fruit of the Spirit. We are called to rest in the Lord and yield to His Holy Spirit. But God also commands action on our part (Phil 4:8): “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” We do still fail from time to time, but it is our pursuit of excellence in the little things that will yield great benefits for the Kingdom of God. James 1:2-4 tells us: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” In pursuing excellence, we seek to take every thought captive (Rom 12:2): “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” We are called to walk (Eph 4:1-3) “in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” We can succeed because (2 Tim 1:7) “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” So let us “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus” (1 Thes 5:18). And we are called not to “be anxious about anything” (Phil 4:6a) but to “trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding” (Prov 3:5). Negativity is not from God. It's a failing of our human nature, and something that Satan uses against us and the Kingdom of God. We need to live one day, one moment, at a time, giving our wills and our lives over to God. The Holy Spirit will lead us if we let him, and get out of his way. We must be constantly living as John the Baptist expounds in John 3:30: “He [Christ] must increase, but I must decrease.” Pray that your thoughts, words and attitude of your heart be always guided by the Lord, and that you are always a peaceful, loving, gentle, joyful and positive Christian witness. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? BLOG WITH US! (Dr. John Fernandez, Life Purpose Coach®, TEXAS www.corpuschrisitlifecoaching.com. EMAIL: fernandezjm@sbcglobal.net