Guys,
I was reading this and I believe that the spirit is leading me to share this with all of you. I too have struggled with this and this is what has been revealed to me. These are my notes on this subject.
Question: Why cant i stop thinking negative thoughts about God and the things of God and how do I deal with it?
Firstly, the way you deal with it is by gaining understanding. You may not understand what this means but just hang in there with me and hopefully it makes sense in the end.
Second answer is because you are a human. It is perfectly normal as a human to have flaws of all sorts. Nobody's perfect and everyone has things like this they experience the only different is how big of a deal we make it. Being humans also, we are sinful people.
In Romans Chapter 7:15-16 it says: I do not understand what I do . For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.
... the believer, so to speak, is a person with two natures, the old and the new."
- old nature - of sin; self seeking; apart from/opposed to "God"
- new nature - of the spirit; selfless; of God
What we are called to do:
- You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh (old nature); rather, serve one another humbly in love (new nature) (Gal:513)
How to achieve this?
- So I say, walk by the spirit (new nature), and you will not satisfy the desires of the flesh (old nature); For the old nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit (new nature), and the spirit (new nature) what is contrary to the flesh (old nature). (Gal:14-16)
(Summation/Understanding)
- the two natures are in complete conflict with each other so that you wont do whatever you want. But if you are led by the spirit you are not under the law (Gal 5:18).
- A huge problem with the initially stated question is that we have been living as though we are still under the law. And that can only produce wrath/death. (i.e. more negative thoughts in this situation)
- A huge part of why you keep thinking frequent negative thoughts about God is because in your mind it's "forbidden". (It's not a great thing but sin is sin but you are magnifying this one using the logic of the law instead of the grace of the cross)
--- By operating under the old nature way of thinking, the only way I could be right is by performance. (Basically never thinking those thoughts again, or else (which is the problem)).
--- When you miss the mark you realize how wrong you are and the guilt/shame can never help you to stop doing this behavior (What the law could not do because of sinful flesh is why Jesus came in the first place).
Scriptural Tide:
Nevertheless, I would not have known that sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said,"You shall not covet." But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. (Rom 7-8)
- So if you live my life praying and hoping that sinful thoughts do not come, even though they have no more power over me (Read all of Romans/Galatians), you are putting myself where you don't belong back under the law and that will only produce failure in your life (flesh minded).
- The mind governed by the flesh is naturally against God (Romans)
-- The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. (Roman8:6). The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so (Romans 8:7)
- So by trying not to think of negative thoughts and be right in terms of the law you inadvertently set yourself up for failure.
In conclusion, You can deal with or stop having excessive negative thoughts about God and whatever else by giving up the flesh mindset of trying to be right in and of yourself (It will never happen)
- It is impossible for those in the flesh to please God. (Romans 8:8)
- You however are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit...(Rom 8:9)
- Thanks be to God, who delivers me from the body of this death through JEsus Chris our Lord! (Rom 7:24-25)
- I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? (Gal 3: 2-3)
Parting Words:
- We have a real enemy so understanding of the word and the truth is necessary in fighting him off. He is a defeated foe so you have the advantage. Read through all of Romans and Galatians for this information.
