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04/01/2020

Renew Your Mind Day 5: Allow the Feelings You are Resisting

Once you begin to get familiar with the actual thoughts going on in your brain, your first desire is to change them. But before you can change them, you have to understand them. And you have to be willing to feel the feelings those thoughts bring up.

You may have many thoughts of self doubt. Self recrimination. Thoughts about your worthiness.

Go there. Ask yourself so what? What are you making that thought mean?

If you are thinking that you are not great at time management for your children’s activities, you may be making it mean something like that you are not a good mother or father. So then ask yourself, so what if you are not a good mother or father? Allow yourself to FEEL the feeling in your body that brings up.

Oftentimes, you don’t have access to the actual deeper thoughts you are thinking because you are unwilling to face the feeling those thoughts brings up. You have to be willing to feel any feeling to really understand your thoughts. And you have to understand them and accept them before you can change them.

A feeling is actually no big deal. Shame. Humiliation. Regret. Disappointment. If you let these feelings pass through your body, allow yourself to experience them, they often pass in seconds if not minutes.

It’s the RESISTANCE of the feeling that is so horrible and prolongs the experience. Most people don’t actually know what it feels like to feel a feeling. They only know what it is like to resist it.

Reflect
What feelings do you resist? Which feelings do you see as bad, wrong or ones to be avoided?

Why do you think that? Have you ever tried allowing yourself to just feel it? How did that go?

Ask God to reveal anything He has to say to you about this.

Respond
Spend 5-10 minutes downloading your thoughts in general or about a specific circumstance in your life.

Now ask yourself what you are making those thoughts mean about yourself. Write down everything that comes to mind.

Ask yourself how you are feeling. Write down every feeling.

Lastly, ask yourself what feelings you are trying to avoid. Write them all down.

Spend a few minutes praying over anything that has come up.

An important skill to learn how to manage your mind is to learn how to process your emotions by allowing your feelings. Let"s learn hown.

03/31/2020

Day 4: Treat Your Thoughts with Gentleness

The way you treat yourself matters. For some reason, we seem to think it is perfectly acceptable to treat ourselves terribly. We look at all the things God has to say about how we treat people and think that it does not apply to how we treat ourselves.

You yell at yourself, belittle yourself, judge yourself and speak to yourself with condescension and disdain. You say things to yourself that you would probably never say to another person. And not only do you not see a problem with it, you may even think it is the way to get yourself to live the way you want to live.

The thing is, this never works for the long haul. The thoughts you have about yourself will drive your feelings about yourself. Your feelings will drive your actions. If they are negative thoughts, they will lead to negative feelings, which will cause you to act in negative ways and will get you negative results.

The bible doesn’t have a lot to say about your thoughts towards yourself. Because there seems to be this assumption that you already do love yourself. That you treat yourself well.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:30-31

Love your neighbor as yourself. The assumption here is obvious. That you love yourself. That you treat yourself well out of that love. Here are a few more verses about how we are to act. Remember, this includes how you act towards yourself.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. – Colossians 3:12

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. – Philippians 4:5

Reflect
Are you your own worst critic? Harder on yourself than anyone else around you? Do you often find that the voice you speak to yourself with is harsh? Condemning? Just plain mean?

Would you be ok with someone treating your child (or another person you love dearly) the way you treat yourself?

Ask God to reveal anything He has to say to you about this.

Respond
Spend 5-10 minutes downloading your thoughts in general or about a specific circumstance in your life.

Now go back with curiosity and gentleness and explore those thoughts. Why are you thinking these things? What are you afraid of? Where might this pattern of thought come from? Is it one you think often?

Imagine you were a child. How would you respond to that child who was thinking this way? How might you comfort them and encourage them? Write your thoughts down.

Spend a few minutes praying over anything that has come up.

Are there areas of your life you want to change, but find that you keep coming back to the same old ways? In order to change your life, you must first change...

03/28/2020

Day 3: Separate Fact from Fiction

We tell ourselves a lot of stories. Stories about what we think will happen in the future. Stories about why things are happening now. Stories about what other people are doing. Stories about what other people are thinking. Stories about their intentions towards us when they did certain things.

We think that the things we think about a situation, a circumstance or a person are the facts of the situation. But most of the time, they are simply the stories we are telling ourselves about the facts. Not the facts themselves.

You see, you simply do not actually know the thoughts, feelings and intentions of another person. Even if they tell you, you have no idea if what they are saying is true. Only you and God actually know your own thoughts. Only that person and God actually know their thoughts.

For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? – 1 Corinthians 2:11

And beyond another person’s thoughts, even things that happen are quite open to interpretation. If you have ever tried to get multiple people to tell you about something like a car crash, you quickly realize that each person perceives a chain of events differently. Many things that we think are facts, others would view differently. One person may think that one of the cars was going too fast. Another may think that they were driving at a safe speed. Another that they were going too slow.

Most importantly, we have no idea what will happen in the future. Even looking at predictions, things can easily turn out differently than the stories we are telling ourselves.

For the purpose of learning to renew our brains, lets classify facts as things that every single person would agree on. Facts, or circumstances as we will begin to call them, are neutral truths that EVERYONE would agree on. For example, instead of the car was going too fast, too slow or just right, let’s say the car was clocked by radar going 30 mph. Looking at the actual knowable facts in a neutral sense.

Why is this important? Because one of the first steps to transforming your thoughts is to be able to realize they are just that. YOUR THOUGHTS. They are not irrefutable facts. You get to choose if you want to keep thinking them. They are not “Just the way things are.”

Here is why that is great news. You think them. You get to change them. You get to tell yourself whatever story about the facts that actually serves you.

Reflect
Is your brain freaking out right now? What is it telling you?

Can you think about a hypothetical situation where this makes sense? What example would you give to prove this is true?

Ask God to reveal anything He has to say to you about this.

Respond
Spend 5-10 minutes downloading your thoughts in general or about a specific circumstance in your life.

Now go back and separate out the facts from the thoughts. This is simply to begin to be aware of your thoughts and to help you see and understand them more clearly. Create one section for each.

Write down all the facts in one section. Make them as neutral and without loaded or judgemental words as you can. Actual words that were said. Actual actions. Actual facts that everyone would agree on. Add any facts surrounding the circumstances that come up.

In the next section, re-write all the thoughts that you were telling yourself about those facts.

Spend a few minutes praying over anything that has come up.

Are there areas of your life you want to change, but find that you keep coming back to the same old ways? In order to change your life, you must first change...

03/26/2020

Renew Your Mind Day 2: Be the Compassionate Observer

Before you can begin to change the way you think, you have to first become fully aware of what it is you are thinking. Have you ever realized how incredible it is that you can think about what you are thinking about? It is quite extraordinary really. And it is a beautiful way that we are created in the image of God.

For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 1 Corinthians 2:11

The Holy Spirit reflects God’s thoughts to him. In the same way, you can look into your own thoughts. You can also ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate your thoughts to you. By stepping into the role of the observer or watcher of your own mind, you are able to begin getting a picture of what is really going on in there. And like we talked about yesterday, what’s going on in there is the most important thing. It is what is driving everything else.

The first, most important step is just to become aware.

But here is the key. In the same way that you will only be honest and transparent with a person you trust, you will also only be transparent with yourself if you trust yourself. Are you going to be compassionate? Gentle? Loving? Or are you going to be judgmental? Harsh? Condemning?

Choose to love yourself and be a compassionate observer. Then you will really begin the process to transform your life by transforming your thoughts.

Reflect
Have you spent a lot of time in the past really looking at your thoughts? Are you very familiar with what is going on in your head?

Do you tend to go straight to judgment and criticism of yourself?

What would it look like to be compassionate with yourself?

Ask God to reveal anything He has to say to you about this.

Respond
Observe your thoughts by doing a Thought Download. Spend 5-10 minutes downloading your thoughts in general or about a specific circumstance in your life. This isn’t a diary. Just a free flowing jumble of words.

Today, try to be more aware of your thoughts. Tune in. Be curious, from the place of a compassionate watcher who wants to know you better.

Spend a few minutes praying over anything that has come up.

Are there areas of your life you want to change, but find that you keep coming back to the same old ways? In order to change your life, you must first change...

03/25/2020

Read

The things you think matter. The most powerful tool you have at your disposal is your brain. Your thoughts are the starting point for everything you feel, everything you do and the results you are experiencing in your life.

You probably aren’t even aware of most of the thoughts that you have. So many of them are so familiar, so well worn that you are sure they are a permanent part of you.

Many of them are being controlled by the part of your brain that puts life on autopilot. So you aren’t even conscious they are there. But they are. And they are leading to the feelings you have and the actions you take every moment of every day.

And so one of the most transformative invitations God extends to us is the invitation to renew our minds. To change our thoughts. To focus our thoughts on the things we really want to be thinking. Let’s take a look at what the Bible has to say.

Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. -Romans 12:2

Whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. – Philippians 4:8

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. -Hebrews 3:1

Changing the way you think will transform you into a new person. Changing the way you think is the way to knowing God’s will for you. Changing the way you think allows you to focus on the things God encourages you to focus on. Learning to change the way you think, and allowing God to change the way you think is of utmost importance to becoming the person you truly want to be.

Reflect
How aware are you of your current thoughts? How aware are you of the thoughts you tend to think over and over?

Have you ever thought about how much your thought life affects you? What comes up for you as you think about it?

Ask God to reveal anything He has to say to you about this.

Respond
Over the next two weeks, you will learn and practice a very practical process to work on renewing your mind. It is also a work of God, so we will take time to invite him into the process. Each day we will build on a set of skills. It is incredibly important that you do the action steps in the Respond section. You can do this digitally or write it down in a notebook. Whatever works for you. Just pick a place and get started. Set aside 10-15 minutes each day for this.

Today, let’s begin by just tuning in. Ask yourself the following questions. Speak to yourself as if you are speaking to a dear friend. Curious about what’s going on with them. Listen with the same interest and compassion you would have for your best friend. Then write down your thoughts.

Ask yourself:

What’s been going on?
How are you doing?
What do you care about right now?
What are you worried about right now?
Spend a few minutes praying over anything that has come up.

Read The things you think matter. The most powerful tool you have at your disposal is your brain. Your thoughts are the starting point for everything you feel, everything you do and the results you…

03/24/2020

One of God's sweetest invitations, felt most especially in times like these, is the invitation to renew your mind. Join me over the next two weeks through a series that looks at what Jesus has to say and teaches you some REALLY PRACTICAL tools on how to renew your mind.

Each day I will post here. I would love for you to add your thoughts and reflections to the daily post. Let's have a conversation!

Next Tuesday at Noon eastern, I will do a video chat with anyone who is interested to connect about what we have learned.

Can't wait to see what God teaches us.

12/03/2019

Would you give a year end gift this giving Tuesday to help me expand our ability to disciple people in the digital age? - https://mailchi.mp/b2110d44ead5/would-you-give-a-year-end-gift-to-help-me-expand-our-ability-to-disciple-people-in-the-digital-age

12/29/2018

I sit next to Ann Cochrum, a woman who has given the last 32 years to serving Christ with Cru. She raised her family overseas and has faithfully served the Lord in whatever capacity He has called her. A few years back, that calling led her into overseeing the development of GodTools, a simple app that equips you to confidently talk with others about how they can begin and grow their relationship with God… even if you’ve never shared your faith before. It gives you the words to help communicate the gospel clearly and simply.

Anne had no technology background, but was passionate about enabling as many people as possible to share their faith - in as many places around the world as she could. Today, over half a million people have downloaded GodTools in 76 different languages. In the last two months alone almost a quarter of a million people have opened up GodTools from 218 countries. The largest user base was Ethiopia!

In the same time period, people used GodTools to start about 25,000 spiritual conversations and presented the gospel 7,725 times. On the Ivory Coast, one person alone has seen 23 people come to faith with 3 of them being from a Muslim background.

But many of the people who download the app never use it to have a spiritual conversation. Why? Because they feel like they don't know how to get started. Ann's heart is to change that and dramatically increase the number of people who use GodTools to talk to people about the Gospel.

So I sat down with her and we created a tool in GodTools that gives people some guidance on how to share their faith. It has been really fun to make! It should be released later this week. I will share more about it in the new year!

Please pray that as we release this new training element, that more people than ever before would feel equipped to have conversations about their faith. Pray also that all the needed technology development would happen to get this in people's hands as they head into the Christmas season!

12/29/2018

12/29/2018

As 2018 winds down, would you consider giving a year end gift to harness the power of the internet for the purpose of the gospel? To help equip believers in all walks of life to share their faith and help others grow? I would greatly appreciate your partnership in this ministry!

I am trusting the Lord to provide $7500 in year end gifts to meet some of my financial needs. So far I have seen $1750 come in. Would you be a part of helping me reach this goal?

You can follow the link below to give online. Thanks!

Cru is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Contributions to Cru are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Cru has complete discretion and control over the use of donated funds.

11/28/2018

As winds down, would you consider giving a year end gift to harness the power of the internet for the purpose of the gospel? To help equip believers in all walks of life to share their faith and help others grow? I would greatly appreciate your partnership in this ministry!

Read below for more info or go to​ give.cru.org/0520848. Thanks!