Mastermind

Scriptures: Romans 12:2, Romans 8:1-13, Romans 7:14-25, Galatians 5:1, Galatians 5:16-26

Mastermind

Imagine you own a house. Every day, you take the same route from the street to the front door—straight through the yard. Over time, a well-worn path scars your front lawn.

Your mind is a lot like that front lawn.

It is intricately and mysteriously tied to the electrical chattering between the neurons in your brain. The communication paths used most become strong and reinforced.

Some of those paths help you learn math and laugh at jokes. But some create scars. They wire you to shut down, react in violent rage, or become addicted to harmful substances and behaviors.

As our Creator, God understands the complex relationship of our minds to our brains. He also created your mind to be much more than the brain’s system of electrical impulses: it is your sense of self, your identity, your memories, hopes, and dreams. And in that, there is hope.

When you choose to follow Jesus, your old, scarred self is made new. God’s Holy Spirit gives you miraculous power to master the scarring paths you’ve been a slave to.

I know, because I’ve been there. I was wired to shut down when triggered by unanticipated changes and social situations. I was a slave to anxiety. It took years to identify the scars in my mind, and even longer to realize I wasn’t doomed to follow the same path time after time.

There was freedom when I confessed my weakness to God and to trusted friends who spoke God’s truth into my life. I’ve sought counseling, medical help, and searched God’s Word for a new path I could follow. I daily meditated on 2 Timothy 1:7 to prove to myself I wasn’t a slave to the scar of anxiety, but instead master over it.

Triggers still come up, but the old path is weak. I am the master of my own mind through the power of Jesus Christ.

You can be master, too. As you read today’s passages from the Bible, think of ways you’ve already been transformed by God’s Holy Spirit. Ask Him to reveal areas where you are still a slave to your old ways instead of to God’s Holy Spirit. Pray and ask God to show you the new path He has for you, and talk it over with a trusted friend.

—Samantha, Mastering Scars Through Meditation on God’s Truth 

Pray: Jesus, help. Help me to see the scars in my mind. Help me to make the choice, moment by moment, to stop ruminating on negative, hurtful, familiar lies. Help me to choose to take a new, truthful path in my thoughts. And, then, help me to take Your path again and again.

Scriptures: Romans 12:2, Matthew 6:31-33, Proverbs 2:1-5, John 10:2-4, Luke 8:19-21

The Self-Talk Struggle Is Real

Isn’t it funny how we can admire people from a distance, believing no one could do life better than they could, but when we get to know them deeply, they’re often just as insecure as we are? We can’t rely on human admiration or self-talk to get us through life. If we don’t depend on God alone, we’ll find that things crumble with another person’s bad day, an off-hand comment that sits wrong in our minds, or beating ourselves up over a forgotten task. We’ll spiral out of control in our own thoughts if we continually lead ourselves down negative paths in our minds. Here’s the best news: God offers a better way.

God is clear that He must come first. Matthew 6:33 NIV says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness …” We can all practice putting God first in our own lives and our self-talk by filling our minds with Scripture—memorizing it. 

I’ll know what to do in a moment of negativity if I have His Word of truth hidden deeply in every part of my life, in my heart, and in my head. I’ll remember it when I’m feeling less-than-perfect, and I’ll praise God “because I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14 NIV). I’ll understand that even though I’m going through a hard time with medical answers that don’t make sense, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart” (Psalm 73:26 NIV). And in times when I’m not sure how I’ll make it through the next day, I will trust in God and believe that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28 NIV).

Knowing Scripture matters, because what we repeat in our minds matters. It flows into our hearts and fills our souls. Choose what you fill your mind with. Choose to be stronger than your own thoughts by memorizing God’s thoughts toward you. God thought highly of you before you took a single breath. 

Memorize the Bible, commit to read Scripture until it flows easily from you, and you’ll find that God will begin to write new thoughts in not just your head, but your heart and mind, too.

—Michelle, Mastering Self-Talk Through Scripture Memorization

Pray: God, I want Your words to be the strongest words in my mind. Today, I commit to memorizing Your Word so I’ll have it ready to fight the lies I too often tell myself. I’ll start with Romans 12:2 so I’ll remember how important it is to have my mind made new by You. Thank You for the healing work You’re doing inside my mind. 

Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 10:5, Philippians 4:6-9, Romans 12:2

Think About What You Think About

Have you ever seen those cartoons where a character is presented with a temptation, and then a little red-horned devil appears on his shoulder in an attempt to lead him astray but then, a white-robed angel pops up on the opposite shoulder to lead him down the path of righteousness? Yeah, me too. And unfortunately, I can relate all too well to the scenario.

I’ve learned there comes a time in life when those voices in your head (or on your shoulder) start to compete with each other. Suddenly, things that were once clear become murky. I cannot tell you how many times that little red devil whispered in my ear: You’re a bad mom, a bad wife—you’re just bad in general. Clarity was lost and suddenly my mind was filled with so much static that I couldn’t discern the truth. Finally, when I had enough, I decided to flick that little red devil off my shoulder for good!

Here are the life-altering steps from Scripture that I found helpful for fighting those voices in my head.

Step #1: Think about what you think about. Our thoughts are the catalysts that set our courses. This is where positivity or negativity and good or poor choices come from. The easiest thing to do is to let the mind run rampant, but we have to recognize that not every thought is true. 

Step #2: Once you’ve thought about your thought, capture it! 2 Corinthians 10:5 says we have the power to capture our thoughts and make them obey Jesus. 

Step #3: Test your thought. The test? Philippians 4:8! Is it true, pure, noble, right, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy? If not, what is the truth? 

Step #4: Decide what to do with the thought. Is it true? Keep it! Is it a lie? Throw it out! 

Our thoughts are powerful. They’re the motivation behind every action. Make it a priority today to evaluate your thoughts. Say goodbye to that little red devil. I promise, it will be a game changer!

—Shannon, Mastering Painful Thoughts by Capturing, Testing, and Deciding

Pray: God, not every thought that pops into my head is true. Not every thought I sit and think about is true. I ask you to forgive me for thinking about and believing untruths that are not from You. From this moment on, I choose to focus on and think about Your truth.

Scriptures: Psalms 42:5-8, Lamentations 3:19-24, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Romans 12:2

You’re a Preacher

We’re currently occupying a unique space in time and history, when resources are bottomless. Inspiring books, enlightening sermons, and encouraging podcasts are literally at our fingertips and in our back pockets. 

But what about those overwhelming and unexpected moments when you’re unarmed, unprepared, and the wind is knocked right out of you? Questions overflow, but answers run bone-dry. The pain screams louder than your faith. Fear is wrapped so tightly around your neck that you can hardly breathe.

In those split seconds when your thoughts start running wild, remember: you’re a preacher. 

The writer of this psalm peered inside himself, proclaiming, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalm 42:5 NIV

Just like the psalmist, you’ve been empowered to search your soul and preach to yourself. However, your preaching will only be as good as your preparation. In order to remind yourself of the truth, you must first know the truth—and speak truth from the Word of God. 

When you’re confused: God’s thoughts are not my thoughts and His ways are not my ways. (Isaiah 55:8) But I will choose to trust Him, not my own limited understanding. (Proverbs 3:5) I might conjure up some plans, but His overall purpose will prevail. (Proverbs 19:21)

When you’ve failed: It’s only by God’s grace I have been saved, not because of something I’ve done or haven’t done. (Ephesians 2:8) On the cross, Jesus paid the price of sin—once and for all! (Hebrews 9:12) Thankfully, His power works best in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9) 

When you’re scared: God hasn’t given me a spirit of fear. (2 Timothy 1:7) I can cast my worries on Him because He cares for me. (1 Peter 5:7) Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) God is my refuge. (Psalm 62:7)

Think you’re not qualified to preach to yourself? Think again. The disciples were ordinary men who had simply been with Jesus. The same can be true for us. We can personally dig into the Word, ask ourselves the hard questions, and remind ourselves of the Truth.

Remember, you’re a preacher!

—Jenn, Mastering Rogue Thoughts by Preaching God’s Word  

Pray: God, help me to remember that I have the power to encourage myself. I can fight the storms in my mind with Your power. Help me to remember the truth I read in Your Word so that I can preach—to myself.

Scriptures: John 1:1-5, Hebrews 4:12, Psalms 119:11, Psalms 119:45, Psalms 119:105, Romans 12:2

In the Beginning Was the Word

You may have heard that words have power. In fact, in the book of John, chapter 1, Jesus is referred to as “the Word.” It says that the Word was with God and was God. Why did God choose to use this particular language to describe Himself? Perhaps one facet of it is because, like God, words can make, change, and renew life. I am living proof. 

Some four years ago, my life was in complete chaos. Feeling far from God, confused, and alone—I took the step to attend a women’s LifeGroup. One night at group, our leader began to talk about engaging with God’s Word. This wasn’t wholly unfamiliar to me. I used to be a Bible study junkie. I liked the Bible. But engaging with it? Letting it renew my mind? Reading my Bible had become a once-a-week box to check off. I honestly had no idea what engaging with it would even look like. This leader challenged each of us to read the Bible using the YouVersion Bible App every day for 30 days. In the beginning was the Word.

In those first 30 days, I found Bible Plans for literally anything and everything going on in my life and in my heart. In Hebrews 4, God’s Word is described as “living and active … like a two-edged sword that penetrates to the very core of our being where soul and spirit, bone and marrow meet! It interprets and reveals the true thoughts and secret motives of our hearts.” At a time when I felt powerless to change, I began to take in God’s Word, and that created a powerful change in me from the inside out. 

What began to happen is what the Apostle Paul described in Romans 12:2. God transformed me into a new person by changing the way I thought so I could learn God’s will for me. That seemingly small decision to take the challenge to read the Bible for 30 days has been going strong for more than four years now. It is how I begin my day, and in certain seasons, how I end it, too. 

Maybe you’re like me and want to see real and powerful change in yourself and your life. I invite you to begin your own 30-Day reading challenge. It’s as easy as waking up every day and opening up the Bible App. Then do that the next day, and the day after that. 

—Crystal, Mastering Transformation Through Consistency with God’s Word

Pray: God, I want the truth of Romans 12:2 to take hold in my mind. Help me become consistent with letting You renew me. I’m sorry for all the times I’ve made excuses for why I couldn’t find time to be with You and to read Your Word. I choose to start fresh. Strengthen my desire to seek You, learn from You, memorize Your words, and allow You to transform my mind. 

Scriptures: John 10:10, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Ephesians 6:10-18, Ephesians 4:20-24, James 4:7, Romans 12:2

True or False

Inside my head is a gal named “Worst Case Scenario Cindy.” She often gets entangled in a lie that flows from a thought that stems from the fear of what could happen. She’s been known to entertain this fear more than she should.

I find myself going down an unhealthy road in my mind the moment unwanted circumstances present themselves. But just because bad things can occur doesn’t mean they will occur. If you find yourself engaging in this toxic mental tradition, let’s change that. 

A spiritual stronghold is a thinking pattern that’s harmful because it’s built on falsehood. Strongholds can come from a variety of places: our surroundings, other people, and of course, the forces of darkness directed by our spiritual enemy. They affect our feelings, responses, and freedom. While a stronghold in ancient times was meant to keep enemies out, the forces of evil want to erect a stronghold to prevent negative thought patterns from ever leaving our minds. They work tirelessly, making it vital that we learn how to resist the forces of darkness. 

If you wonder what strongholds are in your life, simply ask yourself this question: What negative thing has a strong hold in my life? It could be bitterness, worry, pride, or fear. If it’s ugly and you don’t like it, chances are it’s a stronghold. Once you’ve recognized it, then you find a Scripture that says the opposite and fight it. 

It’s a war. A spiritual war to reclaim truth and peace in our minds. We cannot feel our way through spiritual warfare. We must use our greatest weapon—God’s Word. If you believe you’re unloved or unwanted, resist the lie by proclaiming, “I am a co-heir with Christ. I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.” (Romans 8:17; Ephesians 1:3-7) Saying truth is the easy part; living it takes practice. You may not “feel” like it’s the truth, but it is. Speak it ‘til you feel it. And then when you feel it, keep speaking it because it’s part of your fight in this war. 

And are you armored up for the fight? The spiritual forces of darkness are always on the clock, committed to their cause of making our lives miserable. So grab that breastplate of righteousness, that glorious shield of faith, that all-powerful sword of the Spirit, and that mighty helmet of salvation, all the while standing there with your feet fitted with the gospel of peace. And stand your ground. No more negative strongholds on your watch.

You’ve got this. Because God’s got you.

—Cindy, Mastering Strongholds Through Spiritual Warfare

Pray: Jesus, I’m in a fight. I feel it. I’m fighting to break lies I’ve believed for far too long. I’m fighting to keep from believing new lies. And I know I can’t break through these strongholds without Your power. Help me to understand how to fight. Help me to choose the words Your Holy Spirit speaks to my mind. Help me to win this war and find the peace that You want to bring to every corner of my thoughts.

Scriptures: Romans 12:2, Ephesians 2:10, Philippians 2:13, John 8:31-32

Words to Live By

Fear is powerful. It can protect you from unseen dangers, or it can paralyze you. It can give you life, or it can rob you of life. That last kind of fear—that’s the one I know all too well. 

I lived most of my life afraid of what would happen if people saw me as a failure. I hid my weaknesses, cut off relationships, and missed opportunities. All because I was afraid of failing. Can you relate? Have you ever been derailed by your emotions? Life doesn’t have to be that way. 

There’s another force that’s even more powerful than fear, and it’s words. The words you hear and choose to believe have the power to shape the course of your life. The story of your life will be told with the words you choose to believe every day. And that’s what changed for me. 

My pastor is Craig Groeschel. I took his Words to Live By challenge, and God used it to transform me. My life–and my emotions–were transformed as my thoughts changed. And my thoughts changed when the words I was telling myself changed. Every morning I would speak out loud, “I belong to God. He created me to accomplish His purpose and His plan. I will be pleased with His work in my life because He is pleased with His work in my life.”

Those words are based in Scripture, and they renewed me. I discovered that when I didn’t meet people’s expectations, I was okay because God created me to fulfill His plan, not theirs. And in those moments when fear kept me from being vulnerable, I learned that God was actively at work in my life in a way that pleased Him. Who I was as a follower of Jesus pleased the heart of God. And if God was pleased with me, then I could be honest about my life. These truths gave me peace and inspired me to grow. 

That’s the power of words. There is truth that can set you free if you know it and choose to believe it. What emotions are keeping you from living the life you want to live? What words and thoughts do they flow out of? What would happen if you found truth from God’s Word to fight those lies? I pray that you do, and that you discover the fullness of life that Jesus came to give you.

—Bryan, Mastering Fear of Failure Through the Power of Words

Pray: God, I’ve learned that my thoughts can create a scar in my mind or they can blaze a trail to You. I’ve decided to memorize Your Word so I can have it ready to fight my negative self-talk. I’ve learned I don’t have to believe every thought; I can preach Your Word to myself; I can stay consistent with You; and I can wage war against the strongholds in my mind. Most of all, God, I want to master the way I view myself and my life by speaking Your truth until I believe it. Until I live it. I want to daily be transformed by You as You renew my mind. Thank You for lovingly teaching me all these things and for helping me in this battle.