Do you know that science says our brain is naturally wired to be pessimistic? That if we don’t train ourselves otherwise, we will automatically hear, see and think the worst in everyone and everything.
We all know that one person who finds a problem for every solution. They have an attitude of: ‘if it can go wrong, then it will’. And trying to convince them to live out their dreams is a waste of time – why bother making plans if they are likely to fail?
This kind of person is usually a loner; people find it hard to be with them, because they don’t want the negativity to rub off on themselves. But what if that person is you? What if you are the one who is so beaten down by life, that you find it hard to believe in a new beginning?
We know very well that God doesn’t create anything negative,that our mind is so beautifully complex that it is able to transport us anywhere we allow it to. But perhaps due to life’s challenges, you have fallen into this negative state of mind. Things have gotten so bad that you don’t need anybody to discriminate against you – you do a pretty good job of discriminating against yourself. It’s almost as though you are determined to fail.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)
God knew before time that you would face the mind challenge, and that’s why He is telling you to renew your mind. To use your faith and change the way that you think.
Here’s what to do immediately if you find that you have fallen into the ‘determined to fail’ mindset:
1. Pay close attention to your thoughts (don’t allow just anything to run through your mind. Stop them; take note of them; and then go to step number 2).
2. See if they match up to the Word of God (that’s right, don’t trust your own thoughts if they are constantly putting you down. Compare them to what God says and let His Word be the final word)
3. Pay attention to the company that you keep (what are you feeding your mind? I’m not just talking about wrong friends, but also about what you tell yourself. Find the gap that negativity is using to enter your mind and again go back to step number 2)
You may find yourself, bouncing between steps 1 and 3 for a while, but that’s okay, you are cleaning out the negative thoughts from your mind and replacing them with God’s thoughts. The more you do this, the clearer things will start to look, you will find yourself depending on God much more. And instead of searching for reasons why you will fail, you will start to look for ways to succeed.
May the God of the Bible bless you.
Bishop Joshua Fonseca
