Episode 445 - Show Notes
- In our culture today, we have an epidemic of critical and negative thinking. It comes out in our vocabulary now, more than ever. Social media has given each of us a megaphone to shout to the world our feelings and opinions.
- This week as I was praying about my own negativity, I sensed God speaking to my heart these words, “Loren, your negativity is contagious.” Those words stopped me in my tracks. Through my negative attitude, through my critical words, I have the power to influence and impact others to embrace this same negativity.
- This brought me to a necessary question: How am I to live as a follower of Jesus?
- There is so much around us that is troubling. Like me, you are probably deeply concerned about our country, our culture, our media, and our communities. The easy response is to share our anger and frustrations with others. We gain comfort in sharing disappointments with others. Our points of view are validated as others join in agreement. We have all been there, haven’t we?
- Jesus offered His disciples peace. He made the offer in the most unlikely circumstances. At that very minute, Judas met with Jesus’ enemies to plot His arrest. Jesus knew that He would be arrested, forsaken, rejected, mocked, humiliated, tortured and executed before the next day was over. We think that the disciples should have comforted Him – yet Jesus had peace, and enough to give to others.
- On this fateful night, Jesus and his followers could have sat around expressing their frustrations and anger at the Jewish religious leaders and the Romans soldiers, but they didn’t.
- They understood that in this world there would be trouble. What an important reminder that is to you and me. In this world, there will always be trouble. You and I cannot change that fact. Trouble is here to stay. But our focus is not on this world. This world is not our home. We are on our way to a home where there is no trouble.
- Jesus told his followers that in the midst of the trouble of this world that in him they could have peace. I hope you caught that…Jesus offers us peace while we live in a world filled with trouble.
- Someone once said that a ship can sail through stormy seas as long as the sea does not come inside the ship. With God’s help, you and I can endure the trouble of this world, as long as we don’t allow that trouble to come inside of us.
- The way we protect ourselves from becoming negative and critical is by guarding our hearts. If you feed daily on negativity, you will become negative. If you consume a steady diet of gloomy, pessimistic, troubling news and conversation, you can’t help but begin to express what you are consuming.
- Commiserating with others may make us feel better, but it doesn’t bring change to the troublesome world we live in. In actuality, we are passing negativity on to others.
- This peace that Jesus promised is found through intimacy with God. Instead of consuming so much negativity around you, begin to daily practice having time with God. Give the problems of this world to God, allow him to fill your heart with his peace.
John 16:33 - “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Ephesians 4:29 - “ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
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