Escape Your Rut - Part Three

Escape Your Rut - Part Three Pastor Noelle Huether We have been discussing this year that many of us Christians ask this question: If God created me in His image AND Christ is alive in me AND the Holy Spirit empowers me AND God’s promises for my life are true, then why can I not seem to have the victory over _________? REVIEW: We have learned these past couple weeks * Your brain controls the replication of your cells and even has the ability to shut off or turn on your DNA codes during genetic expression. That's when your proteins, the building blocks for every part of your physical body, are being created. * Your brain also stores all your memories and the emotions attached to them. * Your brain controls your physical and mental health. * And your MIND, your THOUGHTS, FEELINGS and CHOICES control your brain * Science and Scripture reveal we are wired for love meaning our brains and bodies comprehend, respond positively and are healthy when in an environment of love and positive influences. * Our brains and bodies have no capacity to understand, comprehend or deal with ANGER, FEAR or FRUSTRATION. "for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." 2 Timothy 1:7 ESV LIFE/GOOD DEATH/BAD CENTER - WORK OF JESUS Allowing Jesus to bring us from Death into Life. We learned what TOXIC / NEGATIVE THOUGHTS: OUR RUTS Toxic and negative thoughts can be the result of trauma or abuse in the past that have not been dealt with, coping mechanisms we have utilized, sins, lies we believe, or even just day to day ways of thinking that keep us from experiencing the fullness of life that God has for us. Fear Frustration Anger Anxiety Chaotic Thoughts Lies We Believe I'm not smart enough It's too hard for me I can't do it I'm worthless Victim Mentality Blame, judgment, hatred Sinful desires and imaginations Any thought contrary to the nature of God in whose image we are created. Scientists have recently have shown that these negative thoughts cause 75-98% of all mental, physical, and behavioral illnesses. Now the exciting part! A study found that Love, joy, appreciation and thankfulness REVERSED the poor quality of DNA Codes and Negative Shutdown! Meaning, the damage we have created in our minds and bodies can be improved and often times reversed by changing our thought patterns! That is today's message, a message of HOPE, for all of us. God tells us: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we become His and He makes us into a new creation! The old is gone, the new has come. Everything good and wonderful and powerful is for us, He has given it to us and transformed our spirit! But wait, what is it that is holding us back? I believe it's Our mind. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:22-24 It's in our mind if we BELIEVE God's promises for us. It's in our minds if we OBEY God's teachings which many times comes with promises of healing, peace, joy, wisdom, hope, success. It's in our minds if we FOLLOW Jesus, to decide to become more like Him, to love and honor Him. It's in our minds if we RECEIVE God's gifts, love, life, everything good that He wants to give to us! Jesus tells us that God is a good Father, desiring to give us good gifts. We have the FREE WILL to BELIEVE, OBEY AND RECEIVE, all done with our conscious minds as we THINK, FEEL and CHOOSE. Let's take a look at our thoughts and how to have POSITIVE THOUGHTS and what the impact is for us as we decide to think in positive and godly way. I'm not a scientist, so I am going to let Dr. Leaf explain what a thought is and how your brain reacts to each of your thoughts. VIDEO - Watch how a thought looks like and how it grows… Watch Complete Exciting Video of Dr. Leaf time start - 24:26, when you have time, watch the entire video. Dr Leaf in her videos show how God created us to be brilliant. We have the capability to do more than any of us realize. He designed us to: To be brilliant Hope To be able to understand how to eliminate and replace a problem Quiet mind Able to Focus our attention Capture our thoughts Have 4-7 thoughts at the same time Ability to dismiss distractions Experience God's influence in our lives and commune with Him Have a Sense of Humor To be a VICTOR not a VICTIM Make wise and godly decisions What are Positive Thoughts? Once again Paul is right there with the answer: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8 Results of Positive and Godly Thinking: Enhances Brain Function Increased Intelligence and Clearer Thinking The folds in your brain increase which makes it work faster and more efficiently which in turn increases memory and ease making decisions Increased Sleep Control Stress Enjoy Life Peace Satisfaction Gratification Healing to Mind (Freedom from Burdens of the World, Destructive Habits, Lies and negative thoughts), Brain, Physical Body (Remember Scientists have shown that negative thoughts cause 75-98% of all mental, physical, and behavioral illnesses.) Each thought, the thought you are thinking right now, affects all 75 - 100 trillion cells through your body in some way. You have the power with your mind to transform what you have become with toxic thinking, to who God created you to be, full of love, power and a sound mind! Dr. Leaf describes it takes 21 days of consciously directing our thinking for all the necessary protein changes to happen to create a LONG TERM INTEGRATED MEMORY. What you think about is the memories you are building. Another 21 days will connect the memory to your unconsciousness, and another 21 days for it to fully integrate within your unconsciousness to become automatic, a default for you. You can transform a rut into freedom in 63 days of consciously directing your thinking for 7-14 minutes a day. Let's look at what Dr. Leaf has used to help so many find physical and mental healing. I encourage you to seek God and talk with Him as you go through this process. This should only take 7-14 minutes every morning. STEP 1 - GATHER AWARENESS What are you thinking, feeling and sensing at this moment? STEP 2 - FOCUSED REFLECTION Identify the one dominating negative thought to work on for 21 days. STEP 3 - WRITE Pour out everything that comes to mind centering around your negative thought, including current action steps. STEP 4 - REVISIT Review writings about your thought; evaluate, pray, review current action steps. STEP 5 - REACH Decide actions to take today to transform thinking into positive thoughts and choices. Is it a verse to remember or count how many times that thought pops into your head, or God's truth to replace the lie, - Create positive trigger, memorized Bible verse, tapping foot, verse of a song that is applicable, imagine the negative thought puffing up in smoke, however you and God decide to face that negative thought that day. For 21 days you focus on one negative thought that you and God want to rewire. Then tackle another negative thought for 21 days while reviewing and working on the first thought. Next 21 days work on the next negative thought. Previous Thoughts 7 seconds - 7 minutes Each negative thought gets 63 consecutive days of focused attention to transform it to a positive thinking pattern. Just as you eat to feed your body every day, this can become a lifestyle for you to feed your mind and spirit every day. The result? A healthier body, a closer walk with God, improved relationships and so much more. I also encourage you to visit Dr. Leaf’s website at DrLeaf.com for her blogs, podcasts and videos to learn more about how amazing and powerful your mind is. If God created me in His image AND Christ is alive in me AND the Holy Spirit empowers me AND God's promises for my life are true, I DO HAVE THE VICTORY OVER________ BECAUSE I CHOOSE TO! Proverbs 4:23 "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”