Go Ahead Change Your Mind
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction: There are so many phrases on the mind.
A mind is a terrible thing to waste .
Whatever the mind of a man can conceive and believe, it can conceive and believe, it can achieve.
The quote from the Book i’ve used to study this subject is
Our live is what our thoughts make it. Marcus Aurelius
The rest of the sermons for the rest of my assignment on Wednesday night will be about the mind and transforming out thinking.
We are studying the word of God in companion with some techniques and ideas from a Book called Switch on your Brain by Dr. Caroline Leaf
Dr. Caroline Leaf is a communication pathologist and cognitive neuroscientist with a Masters and PhD in Communication Pathology and a BSc Logopaedics, specializing in cognitive and metacognitive neuropsychology. Since the early 1980s she has researched the mind-brain connection, the nature of mental health, and the formation of memory. She was one of the first in her field to study how the brain can change (neuroplasticity) with directed mind input.
In her book she says that science is just now catching up with what the bible already has spoken about.
Scientist used to think that Brain was stationary and that it was immovable once it developed and once damage was permanent it was rarely recoverable so doctors were not interested in restoration of function they were only interested in compensation for living and how the person could survive with their Brain messed up like that.
Now we know that our Brains have neuroplasticity and that every morning new nerve cells birthed each day
which is a kin to the scripture in
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
So the first thing we are going to talk about again tonight is our thoughts.
Every time we think we have a thought.
Right now as i am writing down these notes i have having thoughts over the content that i have intensly tried to study over several days. I have read the book several times. I am one of those people who enjoy audio books i like to listen to them at work. So i have listened to this book and i have listened to Battle field of the mind by Joyce Meyer also which really points out how the enemy distrats us in our thoughts and keeps us distracted and sometimes even tries to make our thoughts like they are our own.
Thoughts
Thoughts
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
You were given a sound mind.
God created you with a sound mind that was actually wired for love.
Studies have shown that our brains are wired for love and affection and that over time we change the physical make up and chemistry in our brains towards negative thoughts and patterns that it not natural for the human brain to have depressive thoughts, hateful thoughts, tearing ourselves or one another down, worrying etc all the things contrary to the fruits of the spirit.
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
We were created to function in the fruits of the spirit our brains where created to function in love
and for lack of a better word more postitive things literally the things of God. We were created in his image.
But we have thoughts and thoughts are powerful. Joyce Meyer was right The Mind is the Battle field. The enemy uses our thoughts against influencing our thoughts and sometimes so well we don’t even know they are not our own thoughts.
Strong thoughts have lost of energy
Whatever you think about the most will grow.
Thoughts grow like trees and even look like trees in the Brain.
The bigger the tree the more influence they have on how you manage your life on a day to day basis.
What you think about literally changes the physical make up of your brain you are designed with the capability to change your mind and its physical make up.
You can go through a conscious effort and gain control of your thoughts and your feelings. Changing the chemistry of your brain literally.
Your Brain has neuroplasticity which means it can change.
You can rewire your brain. thoughts impact your spirit soul and body
If you realize how powerful your thoughts are you would never think another negative thought. You would take it captive just like 1 Cor 10:5 says
We can renew our minds
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Renew our minds by changing how we think and changing our thoughts.
Activity of the mind changes the actual structure of the Brain
You should change this mind set I am who I am take me or leave me. No!
We are supposed to be changing growing people and literally growing thoughts pleasing to the will of our father.
Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established.
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,
that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
The Brain can change even in extreme situations.
We are not victims of our biology.
or circumstance how we react to the events an circumstance of life have and enormous impact on our mental and even physical health.
As we think we change the physical parts of our brain and thoughts change the structure of the matter of our brains.
The Brain is malleable and adaptable changing moment by moment of every day having renewable characteristics.
The Brain is not a hard wired machine and does not necessarily wear out with age.
Emotions
Emotions
Our emotions are signals that attach to the thought trees.
A lot of our emotions are toxic:
anxiety, depression, worry, sadness, stress,
Acknowledging the emotion embracing it weakens its protein bond in the brain and it mentally begins to melt away.
There are physical proteins and chemicals that fall apart when you acknowledge and embrace the emotion and begin to evaluate why you feel the way you feel.
Emotions will lie to you. Emotions can be red flags. Emotions can be warning signals. You have to look at it and see what is it. Take the time to really feel it and really think about it. Thinking about the emotion and trying to see why you feel that way breaks its bond on the thought or memory. Memories are trees also. Emotions are there as a shovel to find the root and dig it up.
Dr. Leaf has created an app and a 21 day process that helps you get to the root of your emotions so you can rewire the thought.
It’s called the switch app. It’s not free but it’s not an expensive service. I am in the process of using it right now. It really makes you think and think and think. If you are able to do that on your own you may not need a took like this, but you will have to take the time.
The process is become aware of the thought that is bringing on the toxic emotions. Then you ask questions the ones you learned in English class. who what when where why and how. Then you write it down
Journal it. Have you heard this before i think we have heard this in our recovery programs but there was some stuff she said that made a lot of sense that i want to share with you tonight
I know its true I've been writing sermons for weeks and i can feel my brain organizing them better my thought process lining up quicker.
When you write amazing things happen in your brain. Things start becoming more understandable flow of neurotransmitters that actually help clean your thinking.
Improves smoothness and insightfulness of your thinking.
You can start seeing and understanding things that you didn’t see and understand before.
Reflect on what you think the root of the thought is so that you can weaken its emotional link. If you weaken the emotional link it will not control you any longer you will control it.
Last step is to read.
Reading is a great help in the detox process. Reading builds your brain. Building cognitive resilience helping your mental health
Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
If our own thoughts can change our brain what can the word of God do. Even a more potent argument for memorizing scripture. Growing our brain with scripture trees.
Choice
Choice
Conclusion:
The choice is yours and literally this whole process of renewing our minds is about choice.
The Brain can be changed physically by the mind.
Me being Autistic.
Temple Grandin said over time we can learn to be socially appropriate and look less autistic and this is why.
The new baby nerve cells are there every morning to help tear down the toxic thoughts as we analyze the emotions associated with them.
Mind really is over matter.