Your attitude in the midst of negative situations and circumstances determines your outcome. God wants to show Himself strong on your behalf, but you must refuse to be negative and you must
stand on the Word of God during hard times.

1. How you respond to negative situations and circumstances will determine your outcome.
   1. A glad heart will cause you to overcome, regardless of the circumstances (Proverbs 15:15).
   2. You always have a choice on how you will respond to situations
      
      1. You can choose to think positively or negatively
         (Deuteronomy 30:19).
      2. Your perception determines whether you will soar or become a victim.
   3. Your attitude determines your altitude.
   4. Don’t speak negatively in the midst of troubling situations.
      1. Don’t allow overwhelming situations to cause you to lose sight of God’s Word.
   5. Being negative can keep you out of your promised land.
   6. Staying positive in the midst of a negative situation helps you to overcome.
      1. Learn to look beyond obstacles.
      2. Change your attitude in order to get your breakthrough.
      3. Put your trust in God and His Word.
      4. Don’t dwell on your past.
   7. Refuse to grumble and complain (Exodus 15:22-26).
      1. God wanted the Israelites to see beyond their obstacles in order to see Him.
   8. Refuse to allow a root of bitterness to grow up within you because of negative situations (Hebrews 12:15).
      1. Bitterness will defile you.
      2. Bitterness may come as a result of unforgiveness and can lead to revenge.
   9. You can’t be negative and expect God’s Word to come to pass in your life.
   10. Proclaim God’s Word and not negative words over your life.
       1. Naomi complained that the Lord had afflicted her and as a result she was bitter (Ruth 1:19-21).
       2. Transform the way you see yourself.
   11. Giving up in the midst of hard circumstances keeps you from experiencing God’s love for you.
   
   
2. There are nine ways to avoid the trap of bitterness.
   1. Change your circle of friends.
      1. Don’t hang around people who are negative.
   2. Replace grumbling and faultfinding with an attitude of thankfulness (Philippians 2:13-15).
   3. Only speak words that will benefit you (Ephesians 4:22, 29).
   4. Express kindness toward one another (Ephesians 4:31, 32).
   5. Don’t feed on negative sources; fill your mind with the Word of God (Philippians 4:8).
   6. Commit to developing your spiritual walk through church attendance, prayer and meditation of God’s Word.
   7. Watch your words (James 3:10).
   8. Stop quarreling (James 4:1-3).
   9. Stop slandering one another (James 4:11-12).

• Proverbs 15:15
• Deuteronomy 30:19
• Exodus 15:22-26
• Hebrews 12:15
• Ruth 1:19-21
• Philippians 2:13-15
• Ephesians 4: 22, 29-32
• Philippians 4:8
• James 3:10
• James 4:1-3
• James 4:11,12