I have been prone to negativity for as long as I can remember. If you know me now that I am a totally devoted follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, maybe you would not believe it. Promise you, it is true. But negativity is sin and hurts God and others and ironically doesn’t do an ounce of good for us despite how the flesh may find temporary pleasure in it. I strive hard now to not fall into negativity and to repent quickly when I do. One day the Lord brought to my heart something awesome about the temptation to be negative. An awesome alternative.
When we resist the temptation to be negative, we have an amazing opportunity – TO PRAY!
Examples? A group of homeless alcoholics and addicts are making lots of noise and mess at a local park. Don’t be negative. Pray for them. The local prison is overflowing with criminals who have been wreaking havoc on your beloved town. Don’t be negative. Pray for them. Pray for the town officials. Pray for your neighbors. It’s been raining and cold for weeks and you are so tired of being inside all the time. Don’t be negative. Take the extra time to pray.
Your employer is nasty, your co-workers are anything but kind, your company is falling apart, and you know for now God wants you to stay at this job. Don’t be negative. Pray for them all. And pray for God to use the trial to grow you.
The television news is so incredibly negative. Everything in the world seems to be falling apart. Don’t be negative about the negative news. Pray for the world. Pray about the situations. Pray for the government. Pray for the people you hear about in the news. Pray for those you know and those you don’t, pray, pray, pray.
Everything in your world seems to be falling apart. Don’t be negative. Pray for God’s will. Pray for His strength. Pray for help. Pray for God to carry you through it all. Pray for His forgiveness for any wrongdoing. Pray for wisdom. Pray for discernment. Pray for direction. Pray for comfort. Pray for a deeper, stronger relationship with the Lord. Pray, yes, pray.
Above all else, pray God would sent laborers out to share the Gospel, pray God would give you the courage to share the Gospel, pray God would lead people to repentance and faith in Him, pray for those turned away from Him to return to Him, pray for lukewarm believers to be on fire for the Lord, pray people worldwide would humble themselves and commit their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ, and pray as often as the Lord leads you for anything or anyone anywhere in this world from the people in the room where you are right now to people across the world. Pray however the Lord leads you to pray. Whenever He leads you to pray. Yield to the Holy Spirit who lives inside His followers as He leads you who follow to Him to pray. Oh, yes, pray!
Don’t be negative! Pray!
“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thess. 5:17
“Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Luke 10:2 NKJV