There is so much bad news out there! We can easily slide into a spiral of negativity. Our gloomy perspective clouds everything and we can even infect those around us with it. In Proverbs 4:23 God’s word says that we must watch over our hearts with great diligence for from it flows the springs of life.

Three things will help you to watch over your heart and pull out of the spiral of negativity: a grateful heart, comprehending God’s love for you and choosing to think or meditate on good things. We will talk about gratefulness today and come back later to the other two prescriptions that fight negativity.

Beginning today I want you to develop the habit of gratefulness. Each morning before you get out of bed tell the Lord thank you for this coming day. Each night as you turn out the light, review the day finding at least five things to thank the Lord for. As you develop this habit you will shift out of negativity to finding the good portion of each day.

Psalm 118:24
This is the day that the Lord has made;
    let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 9:1 I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
Psalm 100:4-5
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
    and his courts with praise!
    Give thanks to him; bless his name.
For the Lord is good;
    his steadfast love endures forever,
    and his faithfulness to all generations.

Ephesians 5:20
…giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 13:15-16
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.