Philippians 4:8 (NIV ) – Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
One of the most common things that Christian counselors help clients with is getting their thought life more in line with Philippians 4:8.
When someone is stuck in negative thinking, it is not honoring to God and not helpful to their relationships or emotional health. And guess what? Pastors and ministry leaders struggle with their thinking too!
In our last post, we looking at the 5 R’s to turn your thoughts around and stop the negative thinking. Today, we’ll dive deeper into one of the hardest steps there: replacing the negative thought with a positive thought. Not a fake thought. Not an unbiblical self-affirmation. A true, good, noble, beautiful, helpful thought… one that is more in line with Philippians 4:8.
10 ideas for replacing the negative thought
As a counselor, there are some go-to suggestions that work for a majority of people. But there are also plenty of times that you have to get creative! Every person is different.
Yet every Christian is still called to follow God’s biblical commands and to live according to his principles. Which includes Philippians 4:8! Whatever your unique struggles and strengths are, your thought life should be honoring to God in all situations.
So, as you review these ideas, please don’t think that you must try every single one. Some will hit home for you and others will not be a great fit. That’s okay! Try something, and continue praying and dealing with your negative thinking.
1- Write down the new, more God-honoring thought again and again and again.
We’ve all seen this as a consequence in old TV shows. Write the new, correct, appropriate thought again and again and again. Repeat it on paper and it will sink in more and more. It’s different to write it on a piece of paper than type a note in your phone… do it old-school for the best effects.
2 – Reword the same thought 10 different ways.
You want to find a new thought that is a good fit for your personality and way of speaking. Trying someone else’s wording won’t click as well. So try to re-write your new, more positive thought in several different ways so that it can sink in and hit home.
3 – Write the new thought post-it notes and stick it all around your house.
Another writing activity! But this trick will focus more on seeing the new thought all around your home, at random times of the day but also possibly when you actually need to be reminded of it! Let it pop out to you throughout the day, so it will sink in more deeply.
4 – Find Bible verses that speak to the new TRUE thought and memorize them.
Yes, you’re working on changing your automatic (negative) reactions to a common situation by changing that thought. But memorizing Scripture that is related will help change your heart attitude overall! Get more Philippians 4:8 style thinking deeper into your heart with Scripture.
5 – Ask someone to hold you accountable and check in on your progress.
Accountability is often uncomfortable, but really helpful. Talk to your spouse, `a friend, or someone else close to you. Give them not only permission to ask how this process is going, but ask them to purposefully check in about it. This is especially helpful if that person will be around when the hot-button situation happens! They can remind you in the heat of the moment.
6 – Set a reminder in your phone to pop up throughout the day.
It’s helping for your new, positive thought to pop up in your brain at random times. So use technology to your advantage and let your phone remind you! Sure, this won’t be the difficult moment when the old negative thought automatically pops up. But it will make the new thought more familiar, and therefore more likely to pop up when it’s needed.
7 – Pray over the thought and ask the Lord to bring it to mind in a new powerful way.
The Lord not only knows everything you’re thinking, but He also knows what’s coming next. He knows when you are most likely to be tempted or to struggle. His awareness is, of course, far bigger than yours! So ask for his help. Invite the Holy Spirit to change your thought patterns.
8 – Do a daily review each evening.
While you want to be careful not to mentally beat yourself up for every mistake, it can be helpful to review the day and find places where you succeeded or struggled. When did the NEW thought successfully pop up? When did the old thought still make an unwelcome appearance? This can help you figure out what’s helping and what’s not, to try again the next day. This also gives you time for confession and thanksgiving to God.
9 – Do some daily journaling around the new thought.
Just like you might journal through your thoughts and reflections on any passage of Scripture, take time to regularly reflect on Philippians 4:8 – and let the Lord show you when and how your thoughts are lining up with this. Journaling can help you identify patterns and make the new thought more natural in your everyday life.
10 – Write the new thought, take a picture, and make that your phone or computer wallpaper.
Another visual idea! (Plus, some writing for good measure.) You could use calligraphy, colored pencils, or just write out the new thought in block letters. Perhaps you want to writ out the Scripture verse that reminds you or points you back to the new way of thinking. Make this a picture that you’ll see frequently every day – on your phone or computer.
These are not the only ideas out there!
Whatever idea you want to try, the point is still the same – to interrupt an old, automatic, negative pattern of thinking and REPLACE IT with a new, positive, godly pattern of thinking. Use Philippians 4:8 as a guide, but don’t stop there! The Bible is full of verses that highlight how we are changed in Christ and how our thought life should look, if it is to glorify God and bring blessing to us.
For a bigger-picture look at 5 key steps to help you change a negative thought pattern, read this blog post.
Struggling with negative thinking?
If you are in South Carolina, reach out to us at The iHope Center if you would like some support with dealing with negative thought patterns. Our services are 50% below the local average cost of counseling and we do offer some virtual appointments if needed. Call (843) 702-0323 to get started.
ABOUT YOUR HOST
This podcast is offered as a ministry from iHope Christian Care and Counseling, Inc. We are a nonprofit counseling center in the Pee Dee area of South Carolina. Our primary host is our Director: Jessica Hayes, LPC, LMFT, LPCS-Candidate. You can learn more about The iHope Center at http://www.ihopeflorence.com.
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REFERRALS AND DONATIONS
Our counselors are licensed in the state of South Carolina. If you are local to our state, we hope you will consider The iHope Center as a referral source for professional counseling or life coaching. We offer a 10% discount on services to full-time pastors. Virtual services are available as well.
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DISCLAIMER
This podcast, as well as other resources offered by The iHope Center, should be taken as informational and educational content only. Utilizing our resources does not create a professional relationship. This podcast is not therapy. Always use your own judgment in making decisions and in making recommendations for others.
In the case of a medical or mental health emergency for yourself or someone else, please contact your local emergency department. In the USA, you can call “988” which is the three-digit, nationwide phone number to connect directly to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
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