A New Way to Think

Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress… I am forgotten as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery. — Psalm 31:9, Psalm 31:12

Ever feel like everything is against you? Or like you are stuck in negative thought patterns?

One pattern to watch out for is overgeneralization.

This usually involves words like always, never, every time, or everyone. These thoughts make a situation out to be worse than it really is.

For instance, “I have always struggled with health issues; it will never change” or “Every time I get stressed, I fall into bad patterns.”

Are these thoughts accurate? Do you know it will never change? Do you have to fall into bad patterns every time, without exception? Of course not. Overgeneralizations make you believe you have no control over your actions and that you are incapable of changing them.

If you tend to think in overgeneralizations, write them down and challenge them. Then turn your heart to what you know is true: the power of the Holy Spirit is within you.

Food for Thought

God is merciful; He will free you from those old thought patterns.

Excerpted with permission from The Daniel Plan 365-Day Devotional by The Daniel Plan Team, copyright The Daniel Plan.

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Your Turn

Are you stuck in overgeneralizing? Do you use negative words like always and never which keep you from having victory in your life? Today, let’s ask the Lord for mercy during those times when we feel like everything is against us. Join the conversation on our blog. We want to hear from you! ~ Devotionals Daily