The state of our mind and our thinking is crucial to our overall health. Toxic thoughts can be damaging to our lives and to our brain.
The goods news is that it's possible to actively and proactively deal with the toxic thinking and to develop good healthy thinking. This is not an overnight fix. It takes time, practice and persistence. But stick with it and you will see positive results.
Doing A Brain Sweep
Doing a “Brain sweep” to deal with the toxic processes we’ve developed takes time but is worth it.
We acknowledge it, quit it, and deal with it.
Ps 119:30
I have chosen to be faithful I have determined to live by your laws
The process involves acknowledging the thoughts, understanding where they come from, repenting – changing - stopping the thought patterns
Repentance is doing a U-turn. It’s choosing to stop thinking that way and to think differently.
Then forgiveness – asking and receiving forgiveness, and most importantly, where others are involved – forgiving others.
It takes 21 days to work this process to completion in your brain.
Dr Leaf says in her book “Who Switched off my Brain” that we must spend at least seven minutes a day (or at least seven repetitions of deliberate deep thought), speaking God’s truth, in prayer, and worship.
The first 4 days are the hardest as you are changing the old and laying down the new. If you persist, and work the process through you will find that you are thinking differently.
This is not about a positive thinking mantra – it is about effecting lasting and positive change in our thought patterns, our emotions, our choices and our behaviours.
There is a challenge- we have to be willing to do what it takes and not give up.
So what is the process?
Gather
This is the first part – acknowledging and becoming aware of our thoughts.
Gather the information, what thoughts are coming up? How long have they been there etc., what are your senses telling you, what emotions are you feeling?
As you gather, you become aware of your thoughts and bring them into your consciousness.
For example:
Those things you were told about yourself – what was said? Who said it? How do you feel? What are your senses telling you?
When we are aware, we can begin to work on the thoughts and start to change them.
Reflect
Think deeply about the thoughts and prayerfully. Analyse the thought. This is where begin to develop wisdom and insight.
Prov 23:23
Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline and discernment.
Psalm 139:23
Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Ask questions: What type of thoughts are they? Do they line up with God’s word? What does God’s word say? What do I need to stop doing, or thinking? Who do I need to forgive?
Deep thinking is where the changes in the brain begin to happen. The thought is mouldable at this stage. This is where we bring the thought into captivity.
We can choose to accept or reject the thought. We make a conscious decision to accept the thought if it is good and to reject it if it is not.
We tear down strongholds and then change the thought through repentance and forgiveness.
What changes need to happen?
E.g if we are holding unforgiveness we choose to let go of it and to forgive.
If words spoken over us have been a problem, we choose to let go of them and seek God’s truth about who we are.
E.g Ps 139 Fearfully and wonderfully made
Eph 2:10
We are God’s masterpiece etc.
Journal
Write it down – journal be creative – mind map etc. example of matacog
Writing it down helps us to consolidate what we are doing.
This is really an extension of the reflect stage but it helps us to see clearly where the issues and patterns are.
It helps us see clearly the words spoken over us, the things we believe either right or wrong etc.
What patterns do you see? What images etc. come up? Are their words that are repeated, thoughts that group together?
Revisit
Revisiting is more deep reflection.
What are we learning in this process of reflecting and journalling?
What do we need to change or to add?
As we revisit, our brain is in an active dynamic state.
We can do something positive with the thoughts that are dominating our conscious mind.
Again we choose to keep or reject a thought. We rethink our reactions to information, evaluate the thought.
We then build a new thought based on the truth and on God’s word.
By doing this we re-transcribe our thoughts in to a healthy strong part of our brain and memory.
We do this with God’s grace. He is at work in us to complete what he has started.
Phil 2:13
For God is at work in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.
WE do not do this alone. We have the Holy Spirit to help us.
The Bible has the answer for us.
e.g Worry
We can actively choose to reject worry and to accept what God’s word says.
God cares for me and he is in control.
Matthew 6:25-33
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
Phil 4:13
I can do all things through Christ
4:19
God will provide all I need
AS we choose to accept the truth, our brain steps in and builds new circuitry.
This is where the repetition comes in. As we repeat, as we think regularly and deliberately about what God’s word says and the positive reframing we have made, we continue the process of laying down new circuits and consolidating pathways in our brain.
We actually renew our minds.
Be deliberate. Every day, work on the thought. Concentrate on the truth of God’s word and the new thought and memory. Choose to reject the toxic and accept the good.
Quote Scripture, pray, (Pray for those you have chosen to forgive), worship God.
This builds new memory, effecting new and lasting changes and producing strong healthy structures in our brains (and breaks down the old which disappears).
Repetition is important. The more repetition, the stronger the new pathway will be. ( At least seven times a day for 21 days.)
Reach
This is the faith aspect.
James 2:14-17
What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
Faith without works is dead. James says that not doing what you know is like looking in a mirror and forgetting
James 1:22-25
But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
Jesus said that the wise man built his house on the rock – this is the person who hears God’s and puts it into practice.
Matt 7:24
Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.
It comes after all the others because it requires us to have transcribed thoughts built on a solid foundation of truth, so that our actions line up with belief.
This is where we actually start doing what we have made a decision to do.
We regularly bring the “good” transcribed thought into consciousness and repeat it. We forgive those who have hurt us.
Our Actions and beliefs match up.
Ps 119:5
O that my actions would consistently reflect your principles
Conclusion and Challenge
God is calling us to be transformed, to take our thoughts captive, and to focus on what is good and right and lovely.
We do this by being aware of our thoughts. Choosing to accept or reject them. (Taking them captive)
We then build a new thought based on the truth and on God’s word.
We spend time each day, regularly revisiting the thought and continuing to spend deliberate and intensive time thinking on and reflecting on the truth, repeating God’s word, singing, praying.
The question is: Will you join me in this journey?
Are you prepared to deal with the toxic memories, words thoughts emotions, and be free from them forever?
No comments:
Post a Comment