Last evening at our worship night, there were guest speakers and dancers from a local church. The one woman spoke freely about how the enemy attempts to distract us. I cannot even remember if she mentioned the usual things like cell phones and worldly ambition because she boldly noted negativity as a distraction … and it was like Jesus added an exclamation point and highlighted her thought, which no doubt was His to begin with.
I confess my job as crossing guard is a challenge. I struggle to welcome all drivers with a Christ-like love when they race through school zones or blatantly disregard my presence in the middle of the road.
I had been journaling about grace.
Lord, help be more gracious
Though my pen was seeking, my heart had not caught up. Before the event began, I found myself complaining to a kind sister who asked how my week had been. There is a fine line between reporting and being negative.
Ever notice that?
My heart was full of lament over drivers who are stubborn, rebellious. I announced I pray for them more than I pray for the children. True statement, but was it necessary?
Pride does not pretty complaining.
During the worship night, communion was offered. Coincidence? I think not.
Lord I ask You to forgive me. I acknowledge the negativity flowing from my heart about others. I ask you to cleanse my heart. Lord, keep me close. Lord, soften those places in me that began to harden, like stale bread.
There is nothing lovely about negativity … or commendable or excellent or worthy of praise (Phil 4:8).
How do we guard against it?
- Acknowledge our negative thoughts and feelings. If we don’t they will bubble up, leaving our attitudes overdone: I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me find Me (Proverbs 8:17).
- Bring all to Him, lay it down, and be free of the burden you have accepted for yourself. Love Jesus, lay it and leave it: Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).
- After we surrender the negativity and receive His forgiveness, we have a clean slate! “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers sins no more” (Isaiah 43:25).
- Choose to digest spiritual nourishment regularly. It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).
- Remember and refresh His light within you. It is not something we strive for, it is something we are given. His light is only positive, gracious, healing, truthful: For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6).
And here’s tonight’s disclaimer. I don’t pretend to have neatly-boxed answers for your spiritual growth.
I do not believe Our Jesus fits in any type of box. It is simply He we need … He who gave His all to be our all.
Right this moment, He is waiting for you to draw near, perhaps nearer than ever before. My prayer is for you to lean in close, knowing and trusting Your Savior and be ever-changed because of Him.
~~~
Now that I confessed my negativity, I do feel lighter, thank you Jesus!
How did this post speak to you? I invite you to share here in the comments or email me directly at juliedibblespeaks@gmail.com.
All photos in this post are from Pixabay.com.
I am linking up with #TellHisStory with my friend and sister Mary Geisen. You can join the link up at http://www.marygeisen.com.
Have a beauty-full night.
In Christ,
Julie
https://Facebook.com/jdibble4Him
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Well said Julie. Humility is one of the sweetest fragrances before God. He is moved by our desire for less of ‘self’ and more of Him. I know He has heard your prayer.
Blessings to you sister.
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Thank you so much for this encouragement Homer. I believe in my soul He heard my prayer, too. He hears all His children, and that includes you! Have a blessed rest of this given day, brother.
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Thank you Julie. Your words speak truthfully, and God’s Word supports it all.
Personally, I feel frustrated with the level of negativity in our current world. When I use prayer, my frustrations calm down as I bring it to my Lord.
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Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts. It is particularly frustrating for me, too. I realized while writing this post, it is easier to identify negativity in others than my own heart. I am thankful, as you say, when we bring it to Him …. so much peace is found. It is a new week at my job. Going forth in His light with a heightened sense of possible temptations which sour my mood. Have a wonder-full Monday, brother.
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Hang in there with your new duties. Thank you for helping to keep our schoolchildren safe.
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Julie, Great post! Thank you so much for this reminder and tips to guard against negativity. I have a sticky note on my monitor to remind me that negativity is illegal behavior in the Kingdom… It’s a struggle we all face… thank God for his mercies and opportunities for do overs. Blessings my sister. 💕
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Good morning, Tope. What a way to keep your eyes fixed … the sticky note on the computer! Yes, thankful for His mercies, new each and every day, each moment if we seek Him. Blessings to you too and may your book be placed in the hands of those who need it by Our Mighty God!
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It’s easy to be negative about all the negativity in the world. But I appreciate your honesty about the negativity in our hearts. I think the key to overcome negativity is to acknowledge it, but to also acknowledge that God overcomes negativity in His gospel of positivity 🙂
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Good morning, Robert. Thank you for your comments. Love how you worded that “His gospel of positivity”. Have a great Monday. In Christ, Julie
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Beautiful and timely! I seem stuck in negative thought patterns myself, It truly is a fine line between reporting and complaining. But He refreshes my Spirit each day. Thank you for a heart-filled post. 💜
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Thank you dear Kass. Yes, He is excellent and praise worthy in His refreshing. Thank you Jesus! Have a blessed day, sister.
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This was my encouragement, that the light of the Holy Spirit “is not something we strive for, it is something we are given.” 🧡
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Praising Jesus for encouraging you. He gives me these words. All for His glory! Have a blessed night, Kathy. Going to lead Jesus Journey class tonight. Gotta focus🙏👀
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I praised God for you just now Ms. Julie. What a wonderful example you shared of the importance of 1 Corinthians 11:28. I loved how you sought confession and repentance before you could partake in the Lord’s Supper/Holy Communion. God’s blessings for living out your faith for the world to see ma’am.
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Thank you brother! I read 1 Cor 11:28. Thank you for leading me there. Yes may He grow my faith more every day. May He use my life to lead others to Him. Have a peace-full day, J.D.
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Julie,
How interesting…I’m a crossing guard as well, and yes, there are some people who are repeat offenders every day and after a while, negativity and even hostility can build up. I’m guilty of stewing on things and letting them fester. Thanks for the needed reminder to come before His throne of grace and confess my negative thoughts and ask Him to restore unto me the joy of my salvation!
Blessings,
Bev xx
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Dear Bev, please forgive me! I thought I replied to you. I appreciate knowing another crossing guard here in the blogging world. I have only been doing it for two months, but my struggle to walk in His light by Spirit and not flesh has hard days. I am thankful to Jesus He gave me these words that ministered to you. I look forward to reading some of your work, too, this weekend. Have a blessed night, Bev. In Christ, Julie
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Julie, the Lord disciplines His People!
Recently, my anger revealed! https://medium.com/koinonia/what-do-i-do-with-my-anger-4c6fa44b91fa?source=friends_link&sk=73801b1def6c43b9bafaa0fcfa855896
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Hallelujah for your breakthrough Mary. Thank you for sharing your post. Did you get your power back? Hope you have a more peace-full evening now😴
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Julie, these are such good, needful words. I confess, as I read, I kept thinking about one of my sons, who has a rather negative outlook on most situations. He drains me. But then I got to thinking, do I drain others with my negativity? Ouch. I’m sure I do.
I want to be that light that draws people to Jesus and speaks words that encourage, not words that drag down. You’ve got me thinking and praying about my heart attitude, Julie.
Thanks. I think. 😉 No, I know. 🙂
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Thank you Jeanne for visiting and reading. I know God is so pleased when we confess, open our hearts for His work. Have a blessed Friday. I join you in the desire to be His light, even in those situations which drain us. In Christ, Julie
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I was just praying about this recently in my car on the way home from work. I’d complained about a person’s actions toward me and realized halfway through that my motive was totally wrong. It wasn’t just to vent but to gain another’s agreement as I knew this person had the same experiences with this person. I had to repent and ask Him to help me recognize my motives before I got to the point of opening my mouth and spewing negativity. Taming the tongue is impossible without His help. Thanks for posting this. It was encouraging and thought-provoking.
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He is so pleased when we confess. And negativity surrounds us most days. Thank you for stopping by and sharing. I join you in #tamingthetongue, sister!
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Great post, Julie! Thanks and many blessings!
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