Don't Be A Negative Nancy
What are some traits of a negative Nancy you ask, well here is a short list:
#1 Inability to be happy even when their life is seemingly idyllic
#2 Constant worries
#3 They enjoy having secrets
#4 Stuck in their comfort zone & won't come out to play
#5 They love revealing bad news and dirty gossip
#6 Bored with life
#7 Eternal pessimists
#8 Overly sensitive
#9 Constant complaining
#10 Most of their sentences contain the word, “But… ” in them.
Now that you've read through the short list of "some" traits of a negative Nancy, can you recognize any of those traits in yourself? I know I can see some of them in myself. It's easy to let the negative creep in. I have to ask myself sometimes, would I want to be around me? Would I want a friend like me? It's hard when I get into that negative cloud bubble and all the rain drops feels like being doused with over-sized water balloons to the face. While preparing for this devotion I was racking my brain as to which biblical character would fit this devo. I had thoughts of Jonah, the disciples, etc but, what I feel like Holy Spirit wanted to draw my attention to was the brother of the prodigal son. Now most of us know the story of the prodigal son but, if you don't you can read it in Luke 15. The limelight of this story is mostly on the prodigal son but, the brother was the negative Nancy in this story. He was furious that their father would throw a party after what his brother (the prodigal son) had done. The prodigal son had taken his own inheritance, spent every penny and sinned against God. While the prodigal son was away doing these awful things He had stayed and been faithful to both his Father and God. The brother felt cheated and taken for granted. He was jealous of his brother. He immediately jumped on the negative train and made his feelings known to their father. I love the father's response though and this is what I feel Holy Spirit wants to draw attention to. The father's response was, "My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours." Queue the tears! How easily we forget that God will never leave us or forsake us. We forget that He is our abba and that his streets are paved with gold. That's right, gold! He is not a God of lack. Therefore anything that we have to be negative about God has the provision we need that will fill the negative space with goodness, joy and peace. Jesus died, not only for our sins but he took on every curse. Every curse such as sickness, disease, labor pains, the list goes on. Who am I to complain about something that Jesus died for? Who am I to complain when my daddy is the King and literally made the entire world I live in? I know, I know, it's easy to write about. It's another to remember it when that negative thought creeps up. It's even harder when a friend comes to complain about that person that rubs you both the wrong way.
How can we stay positive even when we are surrounded by the negative? Romans 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. The key is to stay in the word, read your Bible. If we will read our Bible and memorize scripture then if a problem arises the first thought is God's word and His promises, not a negative thought. Here's to being 1 step closer to our inner Positive Polly!
-Whitney
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