Conquering Negative Thinking: Living Fully in God’s Truth
Conquering Negative Thinking: Living Fully in God’s Truth
At the heart of the Rock and Meadow’s Foundations Program is this truth: we must take control of our thought life. Why? Because we rarely rise above the level of our thinking. Negative thinking isn’t harmless—it holds us back and limits how we serve and influence others.
We are called to be the light and salt of the earth, but negativity dims our light and steals our zest. Our calling is too important to let unchecked thoughts sabotage our potential. It’s time to conquer negative thinking so we can live with humble confidence—becoming who God made us to be and doing the work He’s set before us.
Three Practices to Conquer Negative Thinking:
Sharing gratitude is more powerful than positive thinking.
Speaking God’s truth changes our world.
Breaking limiting beliefs glorifies God.
Positive Thinking isn’t the Antidote
Here’s the hard truth: a few positive thoughts rarely have the power to break a persistent cycle of toxic negativity. For years, I was convinced positive thinking was the key for conquering negative thought patterns. But as I’ve worked with others to break and transform thought patterns, it’s clear that a surface-level positive mindset rooted in unrealistic optimism can’t create meaningful and lasting change in our moods or mindset. True positivity is a product of something much greater.
Expressing Gratitude
Gratitude is what truly changes our hearts and minds. When the cycle of negative thinking creeps in, God’s Word (Philippians 4:4-7) guides us to do a few things:
Rejoice Always:
Choose to meditate on the deep, abiding joy that’s rooted in our relationship with God. It’s not based on circumstance. It’s one of our last remaining freedoms even when all others have been taken from us - the freedom to choose our response. Choose joy.
Rejoice in the Lord always means to return to or intensify in our delight in the Lord continuously.
Give Thanks:
Thank God for the good that already exists: the miracle of life, a heart that beats, a mind to focus, and the people God puts in our paths to love and serve. Most of all, praise God’s unfailing, unchanging goodness, whether in the deepest, darkest valleys or on the brightest, highest mountain tops.Present Our Requests:
Bring God your fears, failures, and frustrations. Lay them down. In exchange, He gives us His peace, presence, and joy—more than we could ever ask for. It’s a wild and beautiful trade.
I’ll still gladly accept the“optimist” label, but I know my hope is not in positive thinking. It’s firmly rooted and nourished by my relationship with my Creator. Gratitude conquers negativity and unlocks God’s peace and joy.
Power of the Word
When something negative happens, I typically want to tell someone who sympathizes with me. I like solutions, but a little solidarity in the meantime is nice. Can you relate? I’ve been challenging myself in this area. We often talk ABOUT our problems when we should be talking TO our problems.
God wants us to bring our burdens and worries to Him, but I’m also noticing in scripture God often wants us to speak His truth to our circumstances with authority:
In the beginning, God spoke order into chaos, and Creation was formed. (Gen 1:3)
In the storm, Jesus rebuked the wind and raging waters, and the storm subsided. (Luke 8:24)
In the desert, God commanded Moses to speak to the rock, and water poured out. (Exodus 20:8)
Sidenote: Moses struck the rock while speaking to it, and we learn that God doesn’t need any “extra help,” only full obedience.In the midst of enemy forces, Elisha requested God open his servant’s eyes, and he saw that those who were for them greatly outnumbered those who were against them. (2 Kings 6:16-17)
In prison, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God, and prison doors flew open, and chains fell off. (Acts 20:25-26)
Sidenote: Instead of fleeing, they stayed to have a salvation and baptism party.
There’s no shortage of evidence that God moves powerfully in the supernatural through our words of faith. Next time you face a storm, don’t just talk about it—audibly speak God’s truth over it. Declare His Word. Our voices carrying God’s truth can be a tool for breakthrough.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. – John 1:1-3
Breaking through Limiting Beliefs
To live fully in God’s plan, we must overcome limiting beliefs. We can’t live beyond what we believe. If we see ourselves as unworthy or incapable, instead of a fully equipped new creation in Christ, our expectations shrink—and so does our impact.
Negative thinking doesn’t just hurt us. It can hold back everyone around us. We are called to be a conduit of blessing for others. We are called to be a beacon of hope and inspiration.
Roger Bannister’s four-minute mile is one of the best illustrations of how breaking through our limiting beliefs creates a ripple effect. For years, athletes believed the four-minute mile was impossible. Experts confidently agreed that our physiological limits rendered this an impossible feat–until one man thought differently. On May 4, 1954 Roger Bannister did the unthinkable when he ran a 3:59 mile. His historic accomplishment is enough, but the story doesn’t stop there. Within weeks, other runners, including high school kids, were breaking the impossible 4-minute mile barrier. His breakthrough set others free!
We inspire others when we reject the lies of limiting beliefs. God often calls us into things far beyond our ability. Why?
To keep our focus and dependence on God
To protect us from pride
To magnify God’s “exceedingly abundantly more” to others
Key Ideas:
Don’t settle for Pollyanna Positivity—practice transformational gratitude.
Don’t just talk about your problems—speak God’s truth over them.
Don’t limit God’s plan for you—break limiting beliefs.
Your thought life matters. It’s not just about mindset—it’s about mission. Let’s take every thought captive and boldly live out the calling God has placed on our lives.
How will you conquer negative thoughts today? Who is counting on you to win the war in your mind?
Faith Encouragement:
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
John 1:1-3 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
2 Corinthians 9:8 – And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Phil Stutz – Gratefulness differs from “positive thinking,” which tends to focus on events that have not yet happened… We need to get into the habit of grateful thinking, of letting grateful thoughts flow through our minds as our own defense against negative thinking.