Joel Osteen - Dealing With Negative Thoughts (06/20/2022)
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Joel Osteen teaches that negative thoughts will inevitably come, but we don’t have to dwell on them—instead, we should erase discouraging lies from the enemy and replace them with God’s positive, faith-filled promises, guarding our minds like a house and evicting destructive tenants to experience peace, favor, and victory.
Negative Thoughts Will Always Come
I want to talk to you today about Dealing With Negative Thoughts. No matter how good of a person you are, how much faith you have, you will never get to the place where negative thoughts do not come—discouraging thoughts: «Your dream is never going to come to pass. You will never meet the right person. It would have happened by now.»
The Enemy’s Main Tools
Thoughts of worry: «The medical report is not good. Your child is off course. Your business has slowed down. What are you going to do?» The enemy’s main tools are deception and lies. Your mind is the bull’s-eye of his target. If he can control your thinking, he can control your life.
You cannot stop negative thoughts from coming, but here is the key: just because a thought comes does not mean you have to think it. You control the doorway to your mind. You are in charge of what you give access to.
Guard Your Mind Like a House
That is why the Scripture tells us to guard our minds—be selective in what you allow in. If the thought is negative, discouraging, bringing in worry, fear—do yourself a favor, do not let it in. It is not complicated: do not dwell on it. Do not give it the time of day.
Pay Attention to What You Dwell On
But too often when these negative thoughts come we do not think twice. We just allow them access—go around worried, discouraged, intimidated.
Start paying attention to what you are dwelling on. When discouraging thoughts come—"Nothing good is in your future. Do not even have your hopes up. You are going to be disappointed again"—before you dwell on that, before you let it take root, ask yourself: where is this thought coming from?
If it is not positive, hopeful, encouraging—it is not from God. That is the enemy doing what he does best, trying to plant negative seeds, fearful seeds, inferior seeds.
Perfect Peace When Mind Stayed on God
God said there in Isaiah 26:3, «If you will keep your mind stayed on Me, I will keep you in perfect peace.» What is your mind stayed on? What are you dwelling on throughout the day?
Be Selective in What You Dwell On
«Well, Joel, have you watched the news? Interest rates going up, the recession, the stock market—I am worried.» Those are all valid thoughts. I am not saying to deny reality. I am saying: be selective in what you dwell on.
The right approach is, «Yes, there is a lot of uncertainty. I do not know how it is all going to turn out, but God, I know You are my provider. Just as You take care of the birds of the air—You feed and clothe them—I know You will take care of me.»
Instead of keeping your mind stayed on your problems, stayed on the news, stayed on doubt, stayed on worry—keep it stayed on what God promised you.
Erase and Replace Principle
Here is the simple principle: when a negative thought comes, erase it and replace it.
It is not enough to just not think negative thoughts, because once you dismiss it—once you make the decision, «I am not dwelling on that anymore. I am not allowing that worry in"—that is good. The problem is: it will be back in a few seconds: «Here I am again, just reminding you—it is never going to work out.»
Don’t Leave Your Mind Empty
Once you erase the negative, replace it with a positive thought. Do not leave your mind empty.
The thought comes, «Nothing good is in your future"—dismiss it. Do not give it the time of day. Then take the next step: «Father, You promised: the path of the righteous—my path—gets brighter and brighter. You said my latter days will be better than my former days.»
Replace Lies With God’s Promises
When the thought comes, «The problem is too big. That opposition is too strong. You will never get past this"—you can let that play, live defeated, discouraged, intimidated. Or you can replace it with what God said: «Father, You said when the enemy comes against me one way, You would defeat them and cause them to flee seven ways. This may be too big for me, but I know it is not too big for You.»
Overcome the «Never» Lies
Or how about when these never-lies come—lies that tell you, «You will never get well, never meet the right person, never come out of debt.» Do not let that play in your mind. If you do, you are defeating yourself. That is keeping you from seeing God’s favor.
Erase it—that is the first step: I am not dwelling on that anymore. Then take the next step and replace it: «Father, thank You that what You started in my life You will finish. What I am up against is not permanent. This too shall pass. I know breakthroughs are coming, healing is coming, freedom is coming, victory is coming.»
Your Life Follows Your Thoughts
Get your mind going in the right direction, and your life will go in the right direction. You are going to draw in what you are constantly thinking about.
If you are thinking can’t-do-it thoughts—"I am not enough. This problem is too big"—you are drawing in defeat. That is making you weaker. Your gifts are being pushed down. Your faith is being diminished.
Guard Your Mind for More Favor
Why do you not try erasing and replacing? How much further will you go? How much happier will you live? How much more of God’s favor will you see if you will guard your mind—if you will be selective in what you are dwelling on—if you will keep it stayed on Him?
Meditate on God’s Word for Success
Joshua 1:8 put it this way: «If you will meditate on God’s word, you will prosper and have good success.» Meditate means to think about over and over.
Really worry is meditating—it is letting the negative play again and again. Some people have this principle down—they are professional worriers.
Switch What You Meditate On
The problem is: they are meditating on the wrong thing—they are letting the negative continually play.
Why do you not switch what you are meditating on? It does not take any more energy to believe than it does to worry. This one small tweak can make a life-changing difference.
Instead of going through the day worried about your future—wondering how you are going to make it—a small tweak: «Father, thank You that You have me in the palm of Your hand. I know You are ordering my steps. You said no good thing will You withhold because I walk uprightly.»
Now instead of your thoughts defeating you, draining your energy, limiting your future—you are using your thoughts to encourage you, to empower you, to build your faith.
Worrying Doesn’t Help
«Well, Joel, I am worried about my child. He is off course. He is running with the wrong crowd. That is why I cannot sleep at night. That is why I am upset.»
I know that is difficult. I know how much you love your children, but worrying is not making it better. Living stressed is not helping him or you.
Peace in the Midst of Problems
The reason you do not have peace is your mind is stayed on the problem—your mind is stayed on what is not working out.
God said, «If you will make a switch—if you will keep your mind stayed on Me—if you will think positive, hopeful, faith-filled thoughts—then I will give you peace in the midst of the problem.»
Instead of dwelling on all the negative—what might happen—why do you not use that same energy to meditate on what God promised you? «Father, You said my children are mighty in the land. You said the seed of the righteous is blessed—that as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Father, thank You that my son is in Your hands—that he will fulfill his destiny.»
Erase and Replace in the Morning
Negative thoughts are going to come, but if you will learn this principle to erase and replace, then you will not give in to the worry, the fear, the discouragement.
You wake up in the morning—thoughts whisper, «It is going to be a lousy day. I have so many problems. I do not feel like going to work.»
Choose a Great Day
You can either dwell on that—believe that it is true—you will go around discouraged, defeated. It will become a reality. You will have a lousy day.
But a better approach is to say, «No, thanks. I am not going to dwell on those discouraging thoughts. Yes, they came to my mind, but I know I control the doorway. I do not have to allow them in. I am going to erase them and replace them with some better thoughts: this is going to be a great day. It is another day the Lord has made. Father, thank You that I am alive. Thank You that You woke me up this morning. Thank You that I am healthy. Thank You that You have a bright future in store for me.»
Think on Positive Things
What is playing in your mind? What are you giving access to?
Paul said in Philippians 4:8, «Think on things that are positive, things that are wholesome, things that are of a good report.»
You cannot think negative and have a positive life. You cannot think sickness and get well. You cannot think lack and have abundance.
The Battle Is in Your Mind
The battle is taking place in our mind. Be selective of what you allow in.
Don’t Let Strangers In Your House
Imagine someone showed up at your house and knocked on the front door. You opened it, and there was this stranger. He was carrying an ax, a hammer, a rifle, a bag of poison—all these harmful, dangerous things.
You would not say, «Hey, come on in. Make yourself at home. Good to see you. Got some food in the fridge.»
Your Mind Is Sacred Property
You would not think twice—you would tell him, «You are not welcome here. You need to get off my property.» You would shut the door, deadbolt it, and make sure he left.
Where your mind is your house—it is where you live. There is nothing more valuable, more important, more sacred.
Why are you letting destructive thoughts in? Why are you letting fear roam around? Why are you letting worry have free reign? Why are you allowing doubt—and you-cannot-do-it, it-is-never-going-to-work-out—to have a seat on your couch?
You Control the Door
That is your property. You have complete control over what you let in. You cannot stop it from coming—it may knock on the door—but you do not have to give it access.
Next time fear knocks—"You will never get well. You saw the report. This sickness is the end"—why do you not say, «No, thanks. You are not welcome here. I will live and not die. God is restoring health back unto me.»
Let Faith Answer the Door
When fear knocks, let faith answer the door.
Next time doubt shows up—"It is too big. It is never going to work out. You do not have the connections"—just say, «Sorry, doubt. You have the wrong address. There is no place for you here.»
When insecurity comes knocking—"You are not good enough. You are not attractive. You do not have a good personality. Nobody wants to be around you"—do not you dare let those thoughts in.
Your attitude should be, «Get off my property. You are not welcome here. I know who I am: I am a masterpiece. I am one of a kind. I am made in the image of God. I am crowned with favor. I am wearing a robe of righteousness. I have been fearfully and wonderfully made.»
Time for House Cleaning
Start closing the door to the negative—close the door to these destructive, limiting, defeating thoughts.
And sometimes we believe them so long they have become a part of who we are. We did not know any better—it is how we were raised. We opened the door and now it is like they have taken up residence. They have their own room.
Evict the Negative Tenants
Imagine fear, doubt, worry, insecurity living in your house—dragging you down, stealing your joy, taking your peace.
That may be the way it has been, but this can be a new day. It is time to do some house cleaning. You need to evict some tenants that have been living in your mind.
The good news is: you are in charge. They may be bigger, stronger, more powerful—but you determine what stays in your mind.
Serve Eviction Notices
You need to tell fear, «You are evicted. You are not welcome here anymore. I am not living afraid of what might happen. My future is in God’s hands. Nothing can stand against Him.»
Tell worry, «You have been with me long enough. I am sorry—you have lost your lease.»
Tell doubt, «Your time is up. I have got some new rules: you have to go.»
Tell insecurity, «No more place for you. You are out of here. See you—I am not going to be you.»
No Vacancy for Negativity
All that negative that is weighing you down, limiting your future—why do you not serve some eviction notices?
Keep your mind positive, hopeful, full of faith—expecting good things, believing to overcome, trusting God to do what only He can do.
What I have learned is: when your mind is filled with the positive, there is no room for the negative. When you are full of faith, praise, gratitude—believing for the best—when the negative comes, you do not even answer the door. You do not even pay it attention.
Fear knocks—but there is a «No vacancy» sign. Complaining knocks, discouragement—"Sorry, no vacancy. This mind is full of praise. Father, thank You for what You have done. Thank You for fighting my battles. Thank You for surrounding me with favor.»
Release Your Faith
When worry comes—"What about these gas prices? You see the news—inflation» — «Sorry, no vacancy. Father, thank You that You are Jehovah Jireh, the Lord my provider. The economy is not my source. My job is not my source. I know You are my source. I know I am connected to a supply line that will never run dry.»
This is not just being positive—this is releasing your faith. This is what allows God to do awesome things.
Peace in the Storm
When your mind is stayed on Him, you are going to have peace in the middle of a pandemic, favor in a famine, strength in the storm. You are going to go up when you should be going down.
What is playing in your mind? Are there some tenants you need to evict? Are they destructive, discouraging thoughts that you need to stop allowing in?
My Mother’s Cancer Battle
This is what my mother had to do. You know her story—she was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer in 1981 and given only a few weeks to live. She was only 46 years old at the time.
She had been perfectly healthy—always active, working in the yard, pastoring the church, traveling the world with my father. Suddenly she gets this terrible news.
She became so frail—she only weighed 89 pounds. Her skin was very yellow. The doctor said there was nothing more they could do.
She Refused to Let Fear In
You can imagine the thoughts that came knocking at her door: «This is it. Sorry, you are done. Make plans for your funeral.»
In the middle of the night when she could not sleep the thought came, «You can be buried in that new pink dress you just bought.»
My mother had good reasons to feel worried, afraid, hopeless—but she understood this principle: when fear knocked, she did not let it in. When worry knocked—"It is over. Quit believing"—she said, «You are not welcome here.»
When doubt knocked—"You heard the report. These are the best doctors in the world. There is nothing more they can do"—she said, «No, thanks. There is no room for you in my thinking.»
She guarded her mind. She was extremely selective of what she allowed in. She knew she was in a fight—she was not about to give her valuable real estate—her mind—any room for negative, discouraging, defeating thoughts.
Most Tempted in Battles
When you are in a battle—when forces are coming against you in a great way—that is when you will be the most tempted to believe the lies, get discouraged: «It is never going to work out. Just accept it.»
More than ever you need to keep the door closed. Do not give those lies access. You need all your energy to believe, to stay strong, to overcome what is trying to stop you.
Give No Place to the Enemy
Be diligent. The Scripture says (Ephesians 4:27), «Give no place to the enemy.» That means do not give him any rooms in your house. Do not give him any place in your thinking.
My mother did not just erase the negative thoughts, but she replaced them with God’s word. The best defense is a good offense.
She kept her mind filled with God’s promises. All through the day I would hear her—she went around quoting the Scripture: «I will live and not die. God is restoring health back unto me. With long life He will satisfy me.»
Fill Your Mind With Promises
If you leave your mind empty, it is going to naturally gravitate toward the negative—especially when you are in difficult times. That is when you need to be very disciplined in what you allow in.
And on purpose think thoughts of hope, faith, healing, victory.
Professional Football Player’s Story
A friend of mine was diagnosed with cancer. He had played professional football, and he had to stop playing to take the treatment.
He had worked so hard to get to this point—and you know, this big dream come true—now this huge disappointment.
He could have been discouraged, given up on his dreams—but his attitude was, «This illness is not going to defeat me. It is just a bump in the road. I will play football again. I will fulfill my God-given dreams.»
He was so disciplined to guard his mind—he would not let anyone use the word cancer in his house. He told his family, his friends, even his doctors—he did not want them speaking that word over him. He did not want it down in his spirit.
When he was taking chemotherapy—the whole time—"Father, thank You that I am healed—that this too shall pass—that greater is He that is in me than what is coming against me.»
Two years later—against all odds—he was back in the league, playing professional football.
Thoughts told him all the reasons it would never happen—but he did not answer the door. He gave no place to the enemy.
God Has the Final Say
Do not let those lies take root. Do not give them access by believing them. Dwell on what God says about you.
My mother kept doing this—and it did not happen overnight—but little by little she got better and better.
Medical science even tells us that when people are positive, hopeful—they believe they will get well—they are much more likely to recover than those who are negative and discouraged.
My mother is 88 years old today—healthy, whole—from a few weeks to live to over 40-something years. God has the final say.
Get in Agreement With God
Why do you not get in agreement with Him? Do not let those lies play in your mind. Start erasing them—and then take the next step and replace them with faith-filled, favor-filled, victorious thoughts.
You Move Toward Your Thoughts
Here is the key: you are moving toward what you are constantly thinking about. This can be helpful or it can be harmful.
What are you thinking about your future? «Joel, I never get any good breaks. This pandemic has set me back. I wish I had more talent"—you are moving toward defeat, lack, mediocrity.
Think Favor and Abundance
Try a new approach: «Favor is in my future. Good breaks are chasing me down. The right people are headed my way. Father, thank You that the best part of my life is still in front of me.»
When you think like that, you are moving toward favor, increase, open doors, abundance.
What do you think about your health? «I have had this addiction for years. Everybody in my family struggles with this depression. I will never get back in shape"—that is moving you in the wrong direction.
Change starts in our thinking.
Renewed Youth and Strength
How about this approach: «This addiction is not permanent. Chains that have held me back are being broken. I am free. I am whole. I am healthy. I am in shape. I am attractive. I am full of energy, vitality, strength. My youth is being renewed like the eagle’s.»
Get your mind going in the right direction. Your life is going to follow your thoughts.
Set Your Mind Each Morning
The Scripture tells us in Colossians 3:2, «Set your mind and keep it set.»
At the start of the day you need to set your mind. When you get out of bed: «Father, thank You for the gift of this day. It is another day that You have made. I am going to choose to be happy today. I am going to see the best. I am going to be a blessing to others. I am going to live this day to the full.»
If you do not set your mind, the enemy will set it for you. You will wake up and think about all your problems—everything you have done wrong: «I will never break this addiction. I should have eaten better yesterday. I cannot believe that co-worker was rude to me.»
New Mercies Every Morning
Do not start the day off negative. Do not bring yesterday’s trouble, yesterday’s disappointments, yesterday’s failures into today. Start the day off fresh and anew.
The Psalmist said, «God’s mercies are new every morning"—not every afternoon, not every evening. Each morning you need to receive the new mercy.
Determine Your Day
How you start the day many times will determine what kind of day it is going to be.
Do not ever start the day in neutral. Do not wait to see what kind of day it is going to be—determine what kind of day it is going to be.
Make up your mind: «This is going to be a great day. I am going to be productive. I am going to enjoy my family. I am going to honor God. I am grateful to be alive.»
That is setting your mind—that is making plans for a blessed day.
Keep Your Mind Set
Then it says to keep it set. That implies things will happen that will try to unset it: challenges, delays, people that are rude, doors that close.
You cannot stop that from happening, but you can choose to not let it get on the inside.
Stay Full of Faith
When worry comes—"No, my mind is set. God is still on the throne. He is in control of my life.»
When offense comes—you can get upset, live bitter. No: «God is my vindicator. He is fighting my battles.»
Contract did not go through. You did not get the promotion. You could be down, disappointed—but your mind is set: «God, I trust You. I know this door would not have closed unless You had something better in store.»
Do not let the challenges during the day unset your mind—keep it set. Keep it stayed on Him. Keep it full of praise. Keep expecting good things. Keep believing for what God promised you.
The House That Sold in Two Weeks
I talked to a man that was moving to Houston from another city. He got a promotion here—and he had been believing for it for a long time. It was a dream come true.
They had to sell their house before they could buy a house here. The problem was the real estate market in their city was very depressed—hardly anything was selling.
On his street alone there were four houses for sale—many more in the neighborhood.
They Refused Worry and Doubt
Thoughts came telling them all the reasons their house would not sell—the job might not work out: «Hey, the market is too soft. Too much inventory. This is not the right time.»
They were tempted to get discouraged—not think it could happen—but they understood this principle: when doubt knocked, they said, «No, thanks. You are not welcome.»
When thoughts of worry came—"What if it does not work out? What if you miss this great opportunity? What if you cannot move to Houston?"—they said, «Sorry, worry. You do not belong here. We do not have any space for you.»
They kept their mind filled with faith: «Father, we know You can make a way where we do not see a way. Thank You that You are causing our property to stand out. Thank You that Your favor surrounds us like a shield.»
Their real estate agent told them that on average it was taking over a year for properties to sell—to not get their hopes up.
All the facts said it would be months and months—but two weeks after they put their house on the market it sold for full price.
God Brings the Right Buyers
They met with the new owners and asked them why they chose their house out of all the others. They said, «We looked at over 30 properties, but when we walked in yours something just felt right. We knew it was supposed to be ours.»
God knows how to bring the right people to you. He knows how to open doors you cannot open. He knows how to turn your child around—how to free you from that addiction.
Close the Door to Lies
Do not believe those lies that it is not going to happen—it is too late. The odds are against you.
Say, «No, thanks. You are not welcome here. I am going to keep my mind stayed on Him.»
Are your thoughts limiting you or are your thoughts empowering you? Are you thinking thoughts of defeat, worry, can’t-do-it—or are you thinking thoughts of victory, favor, breakthroughs, abundance?
There is a battle taking place in your thinking.
Victory Starts in Your Mind
I am asking you to start closing the door to the negative. You control the access. Be selective. Do not just let anything in.
Wrong thinking will keep you from your destiny.
Start erasing and replacing. Erase the negative—do not give it the time of day—and then replace it with God’s word, with positive, faith-filled thoughts.
More Peace, Joy, and Favor Coming
If you will do this, I believe and declare: because your mind is stayed on Him, you are going to have more peace, more joy, more favor.
Forces that have held you back are being broken right now. You are going to rise higher, accomplish your dreams, and go further than you have ever imagined.
I declare it in the name of Jesus. And if you receive it, can you say amen this morning? Amen.