What does the Bible say about positive thinking?
The way that we think can either be beneficial on our walk with Christ or it can become an extreme hindrance. Not only will it hinder how we live our lives, but it will also alter our view of God.
Positive thinking has many benefits including increased confidence, lower stress levels, better coping skills, etc. Here are some Scriptures to help you if you are struggling in this area.
Christian quotes about positive thinking
“God is in control and therefore in everything I can give thanks.” – Kay Arthur
“Cheerfulness sharpens the edge and removes the rust from the mind. A joyous heart supplies oil to our inward machinery, and makes the whole of our powers work with ease and efficiency; hence it is of the utmost importance that we maintain a contented, cheerful, genial disposition.” – James H. Aughey
“We choose what attitudes we have right now. And it’s a continuing choice.” – John Maxwell
“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.”
“Enjoy the blessings of this day, if God sends them; and the evils of it bear patiently and sweetly: for this day only is ours, we are dead to yesterday, and we are not yet born to the morrow.” Jeremy Taylor
Jesus knows how you are thinking
Our Lord knows how we are feeling and what we are thinking. You don’t need to hide your struggles in this area. Instead, bring this to the Lord. Pray that He allows you to see things that are affecting your thought life in a negative way and pray to be more positive in your thought life.
1. Mark 2:8 “Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things?”
Positive thinking affects your heart
It might be surprising to some, but studies have shown that positive thinking helps heart patients. The mind/body connection is extremely strong. Your thoughts can affect any physical pain that you have in your life. Some people get severe panic attacks and blood pressure spikes that is initiated solely by their thoughts. Thus the cycle, you think -> you feel -> you do.
The way that we think will affect how we react to bad news and disappointments. In trials our thinking can lead to depression or it can lead to us joyfully praising the Lord. We have to make a practice of renewing our minds. In my life I’ve had trials lead to a sense of despair. However, as I made a practice of renewing my mind I’ve noticed that the same trials that once led me to despair were leading me to praise the Lord.
I trusted in His sovereignty. Although there was slight disappointment there was joy and peace because my thinking changed. I knew that Christ was supreme over my situation, He loved me in my situation, and His love was greater than my situation. I knew that He understood me because He’s been through the same things that I’ve been through. These truths that we see in Scripture can be just words or they can be a reality in your life! I want reality and I want to experience the love of God that I see in Scripture! Let’s pray today that the Lord allows us to have His heart and mind. Having the heart and mind of God will affect every aspect of your life.
2. Proverbs 17:22 “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
3. Proverbs 15:13 “A joyful heart makes a cheerful countenance, but sorrow of the heart crushes the spirit.”
4. Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”
There is power in the tongue
Watch what you are saying to yourself. Are you speaking life or death to yourself? As believers, we should be reminding ourselves daily of who we are in Christ. We should remind ourselves of how much He loves us. We are told to speak kind words to others, but for some reason we have trouble speaking kind words to ourselves. Encouraging others is easy for us, but encouraging ourselves is such a struggle.
The more that you associate yourself with positivity the more positive that you become. If you speak something to yourself enough times, you will eventually believe it. If you are speaking death into your life, you will become more and more pessimistic. Eventually you will feel that you are the negative words that you are speaking to yourself. If you speak positivity in your life you will grow into being a positive person. Studies have shown that people who stop negative self-talk also notice reduced stress levels.
Make a practice of speaking encouraging words to yourself and I guarantee that you will notice a difference in your mood. The great thing about making this a practice is that others will begin to notice. It will become contagious and others around you will become more positive as well.
5. Proverbs 16:24 “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”
6. Proverbs 12:25 “Anxiety weighs down the heart of a man, but a good word cheers it up.”
7. Proverbs 18:21 “The power of the tongue is life and death—those who love to talk will eat what it produces.”
It’s time to make war with your thoughts
Start identifying all of the negativity in your thought life. Now that you identified the negativity it’s now time to fight against it. Whether you are struggling with self-criticism, lust, or pessimism, cast all those negative thoughts down. Don’t dwell on them. Change the scenery in your mind. Make a habit of dwelling on Christ and His Word. This might seem like stuff that you have already heard before. However, it works and it’s practical.
You have to set up a healthy environment in your mind if you want to produce fruits of positivity. If you catch yourself criticizing yourself, then stop and say something positive about yourself using God’s Word. Take every thought captive and always remember this truth. You are who God says you are. He says you are redeemed, loved, fearfully and wonderfully made, chosen, a light, a new creation, a royal priesthood, a people for His own possession, etc.
8. Philippians 4:8 “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
9. Colossians 3:1-2 “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”
10. Ephesians 4:23 “Let the Spirit change your way of thinking.”
11. 2 Corinthians 10:5 “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
12. Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Surround yourself with positivity
If you hang around negativity, then you will become negative. Although this applies for the people who we hang around, this also applies to the spiritual foods that we are eating. How are you feeding yourself spiritually? Are you surrounding yourself with God’s Word? Get in the Bible and stay in the Bible day and night! In my own life I notice a huge difference in my thought life when I am in the Word and when I am not in the Word. God’s presence will set you free from your pessimism, hopelessness, discouragement, etc.
Spend time in the mind of God and you will notice a change in your own mind. Spend time with Christ in prayer and be still before Him. Allow Christ to tell you the things that you need to hear. Be quiet and reflect on Him. Allow His truth to pierce your heart. The more you spend time with Christ in genuine worship, the more you will know His presence and the more you will experience His glory. Where there is Christ there is victory against the battles that we are facing. Make it your goal to get to know Him in prayer and in His Word. Make a habit of giving the Lord praise every day. Giving praise gives you a more positive outlook on life.
13. Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”
14. Romans 8:26 “For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
15. Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
16. Colossians 4:2 “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
17. Psalm 119:148 “My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.”
18. Proverbs 4:20-25 “My son, pay attention to my words. Open your ears to what I say. Do not lose sight of these things. Keep them deep within your heart because they are life to those who find them and they heal the whole body. Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it. Remove dishonesty from your mouth. Put deceptive speech far away from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead and your sight be focused in front of you.”
19. Matthew 11:28-30 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
20. John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage.”
Be kind to others
Your kindness and positivity towards others is proven to increase positive thinking in your own life. Kindness promotes thankfulness and helps relieve us of stress. I’ve noticed that there is more joy in my life when I am kind and sacrificial. I love being a blessing to others and making someone’s day. Kindness is contagious. Not only does it have a positive effect on the receiver, but it also has a positive effect on the giver. Be intentional and make a practice of kindness.
21. Proverbs 11:16-17 “A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches. The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.”
22. Proverbs 11:25 “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”
Smile and laugh more
There are many benefits of smiling. Smiling is contagious, and it enhances your mood while increasing your confidence. Smiling promotes positivity. Make a practice of smiling even when you may not want to smile.
23. Proverbs 17:22 “Being cheerful keeps you healthy. It is slow death to be gloomy all the time.”
24. Proverbs 15:13-15 “A happy heart enlightens the face, but a sad heart reflects a broken spirit. A discerning mind seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on stupidity. The entire life of the afflicted seems disastrous, but a good heart feasts continuously.”
25. James 1:2-4 “Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.”
I definitely believe in the power of words, thinking and how these interrelate and effect our emotions, attitudes etc. There is so much truth found in the Bible.