I immediately recall the Biblical phrase, the truth will set you free. Free from limiting beliefs. We are God’s children, made in God’s image, and most certainly loved and accepted, created for a purpose. (See Ephesians 2:10)
Despite my best efforts I can still fall back into “stinking thinking,” but I’ve learned to quickly change my focus. If I keep my eyes on God, I get His word overriding the negativity in my head.
Renew your mind. Take every thought captive.
There’s no greater challenge—and opportunity to change for the better—than being hit with a serious illness. When things seem dark and bleak, it’s difficult to reject the negative thoughts that can consume you. Many days I spent staring into space, hopelessness washing through my mind. It took effort, but I remembered a few Bible verses and Promises of God. Praying them pushed out the darkness. Peace beyond understanding would come over me, even in the toughest times.
Food addiction first brought me to that bleak, dark place. I’d coped with life and emotions with sweets and bread, my “drug” of choice, since childhood. Excess or starvation on the diet du jour and binging on food then exercise were my coping devices.
Memories of futile workouts at the gym with a “trainer” who told me I’d never lose weight because my “fat was so firm” fueled my negative self image. You can imagine my mindset and limiting beliefs at that point.
Eventually I found OA and was fascinated with some attendees who created their own higher power. Some gave this higher power a name like Charley or referred to it as the ceiling or the group itself. It seemed to help them. But growing up with a judgmental God, I’d dare not resort to a god named Charley. That would not work. Yikes.
Some of my friends were more spiritual, and they had a relationship with the God of their understanding. God was good! Loving. Faithful. Interested in every detail of His children’s lives. Wow.
Years later I finally asked one of these friends, and she brought me to the church she knew would be perfect for me. I attended Bible study and classes about faith and God. Limiting beliefs were challenged. Then I was introduced to Neil Anderson’s work. Victory Over the Darkness and The Bondage Breaker are MUST READS if you’ve ever dealt with negative thoughts, addiction, personal problems, and limiting beliefs. You’ll find “the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)
There is an ongoing battle for your mind. Every day there are new distractions, problems, situations—potential memories we can associate with some negative belief about ourselves. The solution: Renew your mind. Day by day. Sometimes in the midst of stress, pain, illness, it’s minute by minute. Remember, it’s progress, not perfection.
Take your thoughts captive. Stop and think about what you’re thinking. Realize what you’re thinking is not what God is thinking about you. Have a go-to verse or verses that get your mind off the negative and snap your thoughts back to the positive. One of my favorites is from Psalm 23. “Lord, You are my Shepherd. I have all that I need.”
Commit these verses to memory so you have them on the tip of your tongue. So a negative thought triggers the phrase that will squash it.
A few more of my favorites:
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5 NIV)
“The Lord Himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” (Exodus 14:14 NLT)
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil 4:13 NIV)
In short, keep your eyes on God. Renew your mind. Take thoughts captive. Replace negative with positive.
Food for your soul. And your brain on freedom.
