I have been reading so many posts coinciding with prayer about "think positive". Every time I have read it, my spirit squirms. I have been trying to figure this out each time I read it, and as I consult God I hear His voice speak... "false teaching."
2 Timothy 4:3
For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
Now how could positive thinking be bad? It sounds like a great thing! Who wants to be negative? But have you considered "truth" versus a "lie". A positive statement could still be a lie. A negative (in regards to the emotions or outcome) statement can be true.
So what would you consider positive? I would say a positive statement is something that "suits our own desires" as Paul tells Timothy. Positive statements will satisfy for the moment. Sending positive thoughts by a multitude of people (teachers) will give a false sense of hope in a hard situation. Sometimes the positive things sent are not in line with God's will. The Lord IS truth and everything is measured according to His truth. This is reality... truth.
2 Corinthian 11:14
But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
When one "sends positive thoughts" (as I have read on many posts), my question is, "What does the sender and receiver expect from the "sending" of these positive thoughts?" It is typically in regards to a difficult situation or a possible tragedy or heartbreak. It is implied that the thoughts will magically make them better or happier or more well off. And when the statement coincides with prayer, it makes my spirit squirm more. I understand a person grasping for hope when they don't know Christ as their Lord and Savior yet, but as a Christian we should teach correct doctrine. Positive thoughts insinuate human effort to save or change the outcome of events. Do you have magical powers? What is prayer anyway? Isn't prayer simply conversing with God the Father? Yes, the Lord does give us POWER over the enemy. He gives us AUTHORITY over Satan. However, it is not power that is my own and done on my own works or merit. The POWER in prayer comes from GOD ALONE! He is the one who heals. He is the one who saves. He is the one who gives strength. He is the one who gives us breath. He is the one who makes our heart beat. So when we send positive thoughts, we simply chase the wind. It's nothing. Solomon describes our efforts in this life so clear:
Ecclesiastes 2:11
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.
Life is meaningless without God. Sending positive thoughts is like chasing the wind.
If you want to see change in this world, then seek God's face. Seek His will, not our own. He will give you life and hope and peace. And this life isn't just life here on earth, but it's living FOREVER! Eternal life with God!
No matter your situation, the Lord of the universe CAN change it. He wants to change it for your good and His glory, but you have to seek HIS will, not your own. And this is not done on your works, but on the works accomplished on the cross by God's only Son.
Click for a great article "Is there any power in positive thinking?"
Excerpt from the article:
What science cannot answer, the Bible can and does answer. Unfortunately, the Bible says that man cannot be “good” on his own (Isaiah 64:6). The only “good” in us is Jesus and only when a person accepts Him as Savior (Ephesians 2:1–5). Trying to impress men or God through our works is hopeless because without Christ we can do nothing righteous (John 15:5; Romans 8:7–8). Once the Holy Spirit comes into our hearts, He begins our sanctification process. Sanctification is the transformative power of the Holy Spirit to make us like Jesus. Only with the Holy Spirit’s power can a human say “no” to his sinful flesh. Even so, it is not we who are able to perform good deeds, but Christ through us. We are like a glove, and He is the hand. Jesus works in and through us to do His will.
2 Timothy 4:3
For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
Now how could positive thinking be bad? It sounds like a great thing! Who wants to be negative? But have you considered "truth" versus a "lie". A positive statement could still be a lie. A negative (in regards to the emotions or outcome) statement can be true.
So what would you consider positive? I would say a positive statement is something that "suits our own desires" as Paul tells Timothy. Positive statements will satisfy for the moment. Sending positive thoughts by a multitude of people (teachers) will give a false sense of hope in a hard situation. Sometimes the positive things sent are not in line with God's will. The Lord IS truth and everything is measured according to His truth. This is reality... truth.
2 Corinthian 11:14
But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
When one "sends positive thoughts" (as I have read on many posts), my question is, "What does the sender and receiver expect from the "sending" of these positive thoughts?" It is typically in regards to a difficult situation or a possible tragedy or heartbreak. It is implied that the thoughts will magically make them better or happier or more well off. And when the statement coincides with prayer, it makes my spirit squirm more. I understand a person grasping for hope when they don't know Christ as their Lord and Savior yet, but as a Christian we should teach correct doctrine. Positive thoughts insinuate human effort to save or change the outcome of events. Do you have magical powers? What is prayer anyway? Isn't prayer simply conversing with God the Father? Yes, the Lord does give us POWER over the enemy. He gives us AUTHORITY over Satan. However, it is not power that is my own and done on my own works or merit. The POWER in prayer comes from GOD ALONE! He is the one who heals. He is the one who saves. He is the one who gives strength. He is the one who gives us breath. He is the one who makes our heart beat. So when we send positive thoughts, we simply chase the wind. It's nothing. Solomon describes our efforts in this life so clear:
Ecclesiastes 2:11
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.
Life is meaningless without God. Sending positive thoughts is like chasing the wind.
If you want to see change in this world, then seek God's face. Seek His will, not our own. He will give you life and hope and peace. And this life isn't just life here on earth, but it's living FOREVER! Eternal life with God!
No matter your situation, the Lord of the universe CAN change it. He wants to change it for your good and His glory, but you have to seek HIS will, not your own. And this is not done on your works, but on the works accomplished on the cross by God's only Son.
Click for a great article "Is there any power in positive thinking?"
Excerpt from the article:
What science cannot answer, the Bible can and does answer. Unfortunately, the Bible says that man cannot be “good” on his own (Isaiah 64:6). The only “good” in us is Jesus and only when a person accepts Him as Savior (Ephesians 2:1–5). Trying to impress men or God through our works is hopeless because without Christ we can do nothing righteous (John 15:5; Romans 8:7–8). Once the Holy Spirit comes into our hearts, He begins our sanctification process. Sanctification is the transformative power of the Holy Spirit to make us like Jesus. Only with the Holy Spirit’s power can a human say “no” to his sinful flesh. Even so, it is not we who are able to perform good deeds, but Christ through us. We are like a glove, and He is the hand. Jesus works in and through us to do His will.
