5 Ways You Can Be Positive in a World Full of Negativity
How would your friends and family describe you? Are you a positive person?
How would people on social media describe you? Are you positive there, too?
It’s not easy but I typically try to choose words that are loving, kind, and encouraging . . . even when it feels like I’m swimming against the current.
I’ve been told that I look at life through rose-colored glasses.
My mother used to tell me I was a “nut.”
The truth is, It’s not easy to be consistently cheerful, although I know a good laugh always makes me feel better no matter what kind of day I’m having.
However, like you, I have days when I don’t feel good and days when there are people who make me want to scream. I also have difficult anniversaries that hold sad memories and a list of things that get on my nerves.
But with God’s help…
♥ I refuse to settle in and embrace joylessness. I believe God is greater than my messy memories and annoyances.
♥ I trust that He still loves me . . . even when I’m frustrated and want to scream.
♥ I believe that He is strong enough to calm the storms around me and in me.
♥ I am convinced that He is able to take my ugly messes—and forgive, comfort, and heal. I hold on to the truth that He wants each of us to focus on His grace and goodness. He wants us live with joy.
And I believe that is true for you, too.
So, let’s take a look at…
5 Ways to Be Positive and Live with Joy
from Psalm 118
1. Focus on God’s promises not on the junk.
Open for me the gates where the righteous enter,
Psalm 118:19–21
and I will go in and thank the Lord.
These gates lead to the presence of the Lord,
and the godly enter there.
I thank you for answering my prayer
and giving me victory!
2. Trust God’s love is always greater than your circumstances.
Let all who fear the Lord repeat: “His faithful love endures forever.”
Psalm 118:4
3. Keep a gratitude journal full of counted blessings.
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever.
Psalm 118:1
4. Take time every day to worship . . . sing, dance, and laugh with joy.
Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly. The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!
Psalm 118:15
5. Make a point to be an encourager – smile more and love big.
The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things . . . I will live to tell what the Lord has done.
Psalm 118:16,17b
A Prayer to Live Every Day Positive and Joyful
Father, Your Word tells us to think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8) It’s true that what we think about most often becomes our words, actions, and attitudes. But it’s hard to be positive consistently. The negativity around us is loud and too often we let it distract and discourage us. Please forgive us. Please forgive me. Once again I need Your help and direction.
By the power of Your Spirit, please help me focus my heart and mind on the truth of Your promises. Help me trust that Your love is unfailing and greater than anything going on in the world around me. Help me remember all the wonderful ways You have blessed and helped me in the past. Make me intentional about adding joy to my life and by Your grace, give me the gift of encouragement that I might be a blessing to the people You place around me. (2 Corinthians 13:11)
You made the world beautiful and good . . . full of positivity. You filled it with gorgeous colors and sounds to make us smile. Lord, I surrender myself to You. Please help me glorify You by thinking about things that are good and worthy of praise. Help me encourage others with Your positive beautiful truth. Help me to be positive for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
If anyone had the right to be negative it was the Apostle Paul. He was beaten, shipwrecked, arrested repeatedly, and lived through plenty of physical discomfort. (2 Corinthians 11:16–33) Yet, he wrote the following words from a Roman Prison:
Be full of joy in the Lord always. I will say again, be full of joy.
Philippians 4:4, 8 (NCV)
Brothers and sisters, think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected.
So, let me ask you again.
Are you a positive person?
Are you ready to make it a goal to have a positive attitude?
I am.
And with God’s help, maybe we can add a little laughter and love to the world around us.
What’s your favorite way to be positive?
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Thank you Deb for your encouraging and inspiring words! Just wanted to let you know what a blessing you have been to me and so many others who look forward to every post. Blessings to you Deb!
Oh, Eunice, thank you so very much! Your kind encouragement truly blesses my heart! I feel so very blessed to be able to do this and sweet friends like you, make it pure joy. God be with you and bless you abundantly!
Thanks for this, Deb! I woke up to an issue with my phone that was distressing me, but opened my computer and read your post before I made a call to the company. I am encouraged that the issue will be resolved in time for me to leave on vacation tomorrow morning! Trusting in the Lord’s goodness, I will be positive to whomever I speak to as I resolve the problem!
Oh, Jackie, I had to smile as I read your comment. Technology issues can rob my joy and challenge my cheery disposition faster than anything. And those phone calls. Whew, I need to pray first and bite my tongue. I’m praying you were able to get everything resolved and that you’re ready for a great vacation! God bless you!
Love this devotional this morning! Thanks Deb!
Thank you, Pattie! God bless you!
Because of God’s love and the many blessings He brings into our lives, we can live positive and joyful lives. Do I have my down moments? Of course! But they don’t last long when I acknowledge that God is all powerful and in control.
Blessings, Deb!
Amen, Martha! I’m doing my best to take every negative thought to the Lord quickly, refusing to let it linger. Thanks so much for your faithful encouragement. I sure am thankful for you! God bless you!
I really needed to read this today. Thank you!
I’m so glad it blessed you, Anderson. Thank you for letting me know! God be with you!
Thank you, Deb. This is so needed. I keep being positive by deliberately filling my mind with God’s voice in the form of messages, music or the written Word.
It’s so needed in such a dreary world.
I love that tip, Dee. With God’s help, I want to “Fix [my] 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.” Thanks so much for visiting and for blessing me with your kind encouragement. God bless you!
Deb, thank you. I am mostly a positive person so if I am sinking into negative emotions, thoughts, or behavior I need to immediately bring it before God. Thank you for your encouraging post. Imagine if we all lived for God’s joyful life!
I agree, Deborah! With God’s help and years of His help and prompting, I’m getting a bit better at the “immediately” part. I no longer want to waste any time wallowing in negativity. Praise God, He is greater than anything that happens to us or around us. His grace is sufficient every day! Blessings!
Trusting God’s love and walking in gratitude make all the difference in staying positive, Deb!
Amen, Lisa! That’s the truth! May God be with you and bless you!
Powerful, I have been helped .
I’m so glad, Martha! Thank you for letting me know! God be with you!
All the blessings Deb for this very timely posting. In the past days I’ve been going through some down time, depression, annoyance and just dealing with life in general. This blessed reminder indeed couldn’t come more timely…..just to help me refocus on Jesus. On His promises, His covenant. That it doesn’t matter what I face or how lonely I feel, He’s always with me. While generally I would consider myself positive, lately joy have been a rare visitor. And though it’s true that my husband’s ailment doesn’t make things easier, I have to keep remind myself that even in that circumstance is possible to be joy filled – your Paul quote is the best example to that.
Oh Lord Jesus, let Your joy be our joy and our strenght, let it be our hope and food for tomorrow. Blessings
Thanks for your encouragement, Gaby. I’m glad this blessed you. I tend to write about the things God is working on in me. Rev accused me of writing this one for him. So, I believe there are many of us struggling with life challenges that try to rob our joy. I am lifting you and your husband up in prayer. God bless you and give you everything you need.