4 Major Pitfalls for Men Pt 4 Negativity

It is amazingly important that we men guard the thoughts that come out of our hearts, because if we don’t learn to first filter them, then cast aside the bad ones or unfruitful ones, they will roll around in our thoughts and sooner or later come out of our mouths.If they are negative and angry or even despairing this can spill out many times inadvertently,to the consternation of those around us. An attitude of either joy and gratefulness or conversely,frustration and dismay can quickly rub off on those around us! We can and must guard what we think and say. Why? Because as men we bring an atmosphere into every situation and can either positively or negatively affect each and every person we are around and interact with by our words,our mood and our attitude. Daily, we can choose whether we will have either a positive impact or a negative one. And if you are a father your children are watching you,so the consequences of emotions that are out of control can be severe.

We all have times where life is hard, things are difficult and circumstances are negative. But we can’t allow the course of our life to be defined by  negative things. In fact the bible says, “All things work together for good to those who love God,who are called according to His purpose.”Rom 8:28 NKJV

Proverbs tells us to watch over our hearts because what is in our hearts sooner or later spills over and comes out of our mouths.

Above all else, guard your heart,for everything you do flows from it.Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips Pr 4:23&24NIV

Our mouth is a gateway to our life . Our words have great power and what we say affects what happens to us.

Out of the abundance of your heart the mouth speaks. Mt 12:34

Psalms also tells us to also watch over the words that come out of our mouth.

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.Psalms 141:3

So its not easy, but we can “catch” what we think before we say it and either dispose of it if it’s bad or release it if it’s from the Word of God or the Holy Spirit. In fisherman’s lingo, it’s called “catch and release”. We must learn to put in the Word of God and discern the Holy Spirit’s voice,while also sifting through those thoughts that are clearly planted by the enemy.

**Remember satan mimics your voice most times and usually strokes your self-pity.Watch out for it. My wife Linda regularly says, “don’t give the devil air time”. The devil is described as the “prince of the power of the air ” which means he attempts regularly to drop thoughts in your head “out of thin air”. None of those thoughts are edifying or fruitful ,they are usually fleshly carnal and demonic.
​
Go home and ask your wife to help you with these areas. I dare you.