
I recently read a statistic in Psychology Today that said the average person has about 6.5 thoughts per minute, or about 6,200 thoughts per day. Reading further, this article described something called “negativity bias,” which is simply a term to explain that when we encounter negative stimuli, our brains react with a surge of neural activity that causes us to register negative information more readily, consider it more important, and dwell on it more intensely. Similarly, we then overlook or minimize positive information such as joy or praise. The reason cited for this hard wiring of our brains with a negativity bias was that it’s meant to help us remain on alert for dangers and detect threats at the earliest point possible.
Interesting information, I think, especially when taken in light of what the Bible tells us about our thought life.
Romans 12:2 says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
These words remind me that I can change the way I think, but I need to do it with God’s help. By letting him change me into a new person, I can think his thoughts and his will.
I’m currently reading through the book of Genesis again, and I’m so strongly reminded there, right from the very beginning, how our thinking can blindside us over and over again if we’re not careful. In talking about this with the youth at church recently, it was brought up that the story of Adam and Eve in one popular children’s Bible, refers to the snake as the “sneaky snake.” The first thing this “sneaky snake,” which we know is the devil, says to Eve is, “Did God really say that?” In other words, he causes Eve to second guess God’s command and truth, and he twists God’s words. And guess what? He still does this today!
Pastor David Guzik wrote in a commentary on Genesis 3, “We can’t outsmart Satan, but we can overcome him with the power of Jesus.” In addition, I’ve heard it said that although he’s sneaky, he always uses the same tricks and the ones that go straight for our weaknesses. We can look at the story of Jesus in the wilderness in Matthew 4:1-11 to see how Jesus conquered this evil and testing. In this passage we see Jesus counter every one of Satan’s ploys with God’s word. He uses truth to rebuke him and make him leave. By staying alert and with God’s help, we can do the same.
Philippians 4:8 says, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”
But how do we do that? Especially in times of transition, where things seem uncertain or different than usual, we can feel insecure and doubt the truth of God’s presence and power and guidance with us. I’m sure many of you have told yourselves to stop thinking negative thoughts. You all likely know that isn’t healthy or helpful, but even with our best efforts, we can fall into negative thinking. I think that’s when knowing it’s natural to do this is helpful. We don’t need to compound the negativity by beating ourselves up for the thoughts in our head that aren’t positive. But we can notice them and give them over to our God who can do something about them.
Earlier in Philippians, we read advice for how to handle that negativity bias that’s rooted in our need to protect ourselves from danger. Philippians 4:4-7 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
That’s how we conquer those natural negative thoughts. We hand them over to Him.
Notice also that it says to do this WITH THANKSGIVING. This same article on negativity bias recommended the practice of gratitude as a way of diminishing negative thought patterns. I love when science and psychology line up with what the Bible has been saying all along, and this is a perfect example of that. Of course, the Bible also tells us to take it a step further by telling us to present our requests to Him in EVERY situation. Yes, the word is EVERY, not some, or a few, or when we feel like it, or only when things are bad enough or good enough, but IN EVERY SINGLE SITUATION.
While many of us have heard these verses before and know this to be true, I know that it takes constant effort to remember this. So recently, I’ve been trying to pay more attention to my thoughts, especially when I notice I’m not feeling right. I think my tendency is to ignore the negative thought, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I think a more effective strategy might be to actually call out the thought and replace it with a true thought from God. It’s similar to the advice on how to get rid of a bad habit, by replacing the bad habit with a new good one.
In thinking on how to do this better, and how to help others do this, I decided it might be helpful to have a physical reminder as well as a physical action I could do when I notice a negative thought that I know isn’t from God. The very simple idea that came to my mind was a bracelet, which I could look at and touch as a reminder that I have God’s word, his armor at my disposable all the time.
Ephesians 6: 13-18 says, “Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”
Of course, wearing a bracelet isn’t really a new idea. Many people wear bracelets or necklaces to remind them of their faith. They’re a great reminder to stay alert and focused on God and his truth. Two of my favorite bracelets are gifts from a beautiful friend. One has my word for the year at the time, hope, reminding me of the gift of hope God gives me. The other has my grandson’s name, a reminder to me that God is with him and protecting him and all my children even when I’m far from them. I cherish these for what they say and for the love and friendship in which I received them.

Part of the strength that has come from the bracelet I’m describing here is what I gained in the making of it.

After a trip to Joanne’s, where I spent much too long trying to select the perfect beads, I ended up with the following: several tan shades of wood beads, some pearl-like white beads, and some small heart shaped beads.
For the heart shapes, I chose three, to represent the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit always being close with me, and for the others, I strung them in patterns of three until the end, where I finished off with enough small white ones to cover the strand.
I also drew a cross on one side of each of the hearts. The idea with this is to turn a heart over to reveal the cross, or turn it the opposite way, to have it close to me, every time I think a thought that isn't of God. As I turn the heart, I say a truth from God or lift up a prayer to him.

Pretty simple, right?
Well, yes and no. While making one of these bracelets doesn’t require any immense skill, it did require more patience than I anticipated. (much like many situations in life!) Those little beads easily slipped off when I was trying to tie the knot in the slippery plastic string that I had cut too short to easily tie. This happened several times actually! When I finally managed to tie a knot without losing the beads, the knot soon began to slip. So I tied several more knots in hopes of keeping it secured, which somehow worked. If you’re an expert at making bracelets, I’m sure you’re laughing at my strategies, but that’s all to say that if I can do this, anyone can. Plus, those moments of required patience actually turned into moments of prayer because I remembered that the point of this bracelet was to help with negative thought patterns.
When a negative thought entered my mind, like “Dianne, what are you doing? You have no idea how to do this. This is a waste of your time,” I countered with something like, “God, please give me your patience, with this and with all things.”
Then as I strung more beads, I continued to pray for what was on my mind – to be with those I love and care about, those I worry about, for God to protect and strengthen them and me, for him to guide our thoughts. I thanked him for all his blessings, including the time to make the bracelet that reminds me to think about him.
So my encouragement for you today is to make a bracelet like this if you have the opportunity and time to do so, but more importantly, I encourage you to find any way that helps you remember to refocus your thoughts on his truth. Whatever transition or waiting period you’re in right now, don’t forget that God is with you in it and he will guide you in the right direction.
Maybe it’s writing a reminder of his truths on your phone or on a daily calendar. Maybe it’s placing his words of truth on sticky notes that you place in places you’ll see regularly. A very dear friend of mine recently gifted me with a pillow called “The Hugging Cross.” It’s a beautiful reminder every day of who I can turn to with everything on my heart, and that even when I don’t have the right words to say, he’s there to comfort me, just like that wonderful friend who gave me this gift! I have it placed where I see it every day.

Whether you make or find any of these things I’m suggesting doesn’t actually matter. The only thing that does matter is listening to him, and the only way to do that is to read or listen to his word.
Before I post this, I'm turning one of the hearts on my bracelet and saying this prayer for all who read this: I pray that you will hear and listen to God and his word, that you will know his voice and be able to counter any lies with his truths, and that those truths and his unending love speak louder than anything else in your life. Amen
Have a blessed week, friends, listening to the one who knows you so well and loves you so much.
But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.” John 10:2-5
Well, your prayer worked! I am in tears reading this Dianne! Thank you so much, it is exactly what I needed. Yes, I have heard those scriptures before, but you made a way to bring them into a new perspective for me. I love the idea of a bracelet, I kept thinking while I was reading is oh I can go buy a nice one, then reading on, you mentioned the challenges you had in making it and finding time to pray over it! Wow, that hit me! Many times we think we can take a short cut, but that short cut takes our focus off the patience we find in challenges and opportune moments to take them to G…