Winter Conference January 8-9, 2011 Renewing Your Mind A New Mental Attitude for a New Year Table of Contents Who Switched Off My Brain?... 2 Your Brain has a Library... 8 Brain Control Center.... 9 Brain Clearing House of Thoughts.... 11 THE GREAT DANGER... 13 NO THOUGHT SHOULD EVER BE ALLOWED TO CONTROL YOU.... 14 WE ARE DESIGNED BY GOD FOR DEEP CREATIVE THOUGHT!... 15 The Mind/Health Connection... 16
Winter Conference January 8-9, 2011 Renewing Your Mind A New Mental Attitude for a New Year Who Switched Off My Brain? Recently I read a book by Dr. Caroline Leaf, called Who Switched Off My Brain? Controlling toxic thoughts and emotions. This little book gave me a whole new outlook on Romans 12:2 and the renewing of our mind. This weekend this is the topic I want to discuss. As we face a new year, let s decide to enter the New Year with a totally new mindset. Romans 12:2 Amplified Do not be conformed to this world (this age), (fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs), but be transformed (changed) by the (entire) renewal of your mind (by its new ideals and its new attitude), so that you may prove (for yourselves) what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Let s look at this verse carefully: Mind = thinking processes brain Winter Conference 2011 Renewing Your Mind Billie Hunt Ministries 2
Conform = pressed into an image from outside forces. Our mind or brain is constantly being bombarded by thoughts and ideas from every direction. Each of our five senses contribute to our thoughts and ideas (sight, touch, taste, sound and smell). Your thoughts are a doorway into your intellect and they influence your emotion and your free will. Therefore, your thought-life is very important. If we are to discover God s will for our life we must learn to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. Research indicates that 80% of physical, emotional and mental health issues today could be a direct result of our thought lives. Stress is a global term for the extreme strain on your body s systems as a result of toxic thinking. Proverbs 23:7 As a man thinks in his heart so is he Your thoughts determine your physical and mental and spiritual health. You can t change your thinking from outside. It has to be done inside: Transformed = changed from inside. We need to change the way we process information. We need to change the way we Winter Conference 2011 Renewing Your Mind Billie Hunt Ministries 3
think and learn to think more wisely so that we can fulfill our destiny and walk in health! Renewal of your mind Science actually tell us that our brain is constantly changing. Some diseases cause our brain to shrink, but what God desires an expanding of our brain power and that s what we are going to talk about tonight. Personal Paraphrase: Don t allow the world to tell you how to think don t embrace their ideas and methods; rather allow the Holy Spirit to change you from within by developing a new way of thinking! The Bible has much to say about our thought life: Philippians 4:8 KJV Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 2:5 KJV Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. 1 Cor. 2:16 But we have the mind of Christ. We have potential. But it s up to you. You must allow the mind of Christ to dominate your thought life. Winter Conference 2011 Renewing Your Mind Billie Hunt Ministries 4
Our mind is the battlefield where the enemy attacks us! Therefore, it is very important that we learn to renew our mind. Renewing your mind is not just a one time thing, it is a constant work! I like how the Message Bible reads in 2 Corinthians 10:5 We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ! So this weekend, let s use our powerful God-tools to do just that! Let s look at ourselves and allow the Holy Spirit to bring toxic thoughts to the surface and then let s learn how to develop a new way of thinking that will guard our mind and allow the Holy Spirit to constantly renew us taking us from one degree of glory to another: 2 Corinthians 3:18 Amplified. And all of us, as with unveiled face, because we continued to behold in the Word of God as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord, Who is the Spirit. Winter Conference 2011 Renewing Your Mind Billie Hunt Ministries 5
Let s begin by asking the Lord to unveil our eyes and allow us to recognize the areas that have been affected by wrong thinking.. Pray.. In her book Who Switched Off My Brain Dr. Caroline Leaf states that we can change the pathways of thought within four days and create new pathways within 21 days! She states: Positive habits and negative habits are built through the exact same process in your brain, the only difference is the release of different quantities of chemicals that affect your body. To Change the way we think, we must understand how our brain works. So let s look at the process each thought goes through as it enters our brain. Gather. Our five senses are constantly gathering information into our brain As you receive information or thoughts you can decide on the permanence of that information and whether it becomes a part of who you are. This process involves your attitude. Every thought triggers an attitude! Winter Conference 2011 Renewing Your Mind Billie Hunt Ministries 6
Attitude An attitude is a state of mind, that influences our choices and what we say and do as a result of our choices. Every thought evokes an attitude. If the attitude is positive, it releases a feeling of peace. If the attitude is negative it releases negative feelings or emotions. I ve always said that your attitude determines your outcome and now I find that science agrees with that statement. Although you can t control the information coming into your mind or your environment at all times, you can control how it affects your brain/your thinking and your body! Chemicals & Hormones I found it very interesting that your thoughts inspire your brain to release chemicals and hormones into your body. Good thoughts release feel good chemicals and stress related thoughts release negative, disease causing chemicals into your body. With every thought there is a A Period of acceptance or denial Here s the good news. Every thought (information) is still in a temporary state. It has not yet lodged itself into your memory or become a part of your Spirit. There is still time to adjust your attitude! Winter Conference 2011 Renewing Your Mind Billie Hunt Ministries 7
Your Brain has a Library Brain Library.(Memory) There is a section in your brain that stores information. When information enters your brain, it will go to the library and pull up corresponding information. Your brain stores emotional perceptions that occur each time a thought is built. Memories are built! Every time we build a memory, we activate emotion. That is why we can actually feel our body s reaction to thoughts rapid heartbeat, adrenalin rush, peace, fear all emotions connected to thought information. Your old nature will pull up former memories and try to tie them to the thoughts you are receiving. Have you ever noticed when you are confronted with a thought of someone who has hurt you in the past, that all the information about those past hurts will surface? This happens because we did not properly deal with the thoughts and situations in the past. When toxic or hurtful memorial surface, we should deal with them at once. We should repent for any sin on our part and make the decision to forgive those who have hurt us. We don t forgive for the sake of those who have hurt us, bur for our own sakes. Those memories may still emerge when you think about this person or have contact with this person, but the act for forgiving with change Winter Conference 2011 Renewing Your Mind Billie Hunt Ministries 8
your past memories. Rather than experience the hurt, you may simply remember and be cautious. I love the scriptures that speak of God s memories of me. Hebrews 8:12; Isaiah 43:25 and Jeremiah 31:34 all state that God refuses to remember my sins and failures. Since I have the mind of Christ, I believe I can also release those who hurt me and refuse to hold their past behavior against them. Your current thoughts also have opportunity to become a part of this Brain Library and influence your future and current life and relationships. Brain Control Center. This part of your brain contains reasoning, decisionmaking, analyzing and strategizing executive level functions. This part of our brain enables us to balance the emotions we physically experience and allow us to react reasonably. WE CAN DECIDE NOT TO THINK ABOUT THIS ISSUE ANYMORE AND THOSE TEMPORARY THOUGHTS WILL DISAPPEAR. The choice not to think about that temporary thought simply sends them away. God considers this thought analysis Process part of our spiritual warfare! Winter Conference 2011 Renewing Your Mind Billie Hunt Ministries 9
2 Corinthians 10:3 Amplified For though we walk in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. 4. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical (weapons of flesh and blood), but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds. 5. Inasmuch as we refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the true knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). Stronghold = The Greek word actually means fortress. Spiritual strongholds are best defined as areas of bondage to Satan, or the flesh, whether physical, emotional, psychological or spiritual in origin. Think for a moment, are there such areas in your life? If there are, verse 5 gives clear instruction concerning your thought life and spiritual warfare. We must exercise our will to catch the thought and bring it into captivity. Dismissing every thought that is destructive. Winter Conference 2011 Renewing Your Mind Billie Hunt Ministries 10
Brain Clearing House of Thoughts. Here information is classified as either short-term or longterm importance and is filed in an area that converts temporary thoughts into permanent information (a lot of this happens at night while you sleep). Consider how anger seems to grow at night while you are trying to go to sleep and then consider this verse: Ephesians 4:26 Amplified When angry do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down. 27. Leave no such room or foothold for the devil (give no opportunity for him). Psalm 4:4 Be angry and sin not. Commune with your own heart upon your bed and be silent. Selah! Thoughts must be handled immediately! Anger must be handled immediately! Emotional pain must be handled immediately! Negative thoughts that are allowed to linger can become a stronghold! This is where you make the decision. Do I want to keep these thoughts! Winter Conference 2011 Renewing Your Mind Billie Hunt Ministries 11
Let me quote from Dr. Leaf s book: After the gathering stage, electrical information created by your thoughts and existing memories brought into consciousness whoosh through the hippocampus, moving toward the front of the brain. The information stays in the hippocampus for 24-48 hours constantly being amplified each time it swirls to the front (seleh). The amplification sets in motion a delightful string of events so magnificent that it can only reflect the work of our Creator. This string of events is our free will and decision-making ability, a true gift! At this stage in our thoughts there will be a change. Either we will get rid of the thought or reinforce it. We choose by using our free will. We must bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Dr. Leaf states We can literally tear toxic strongholds down by choosing to bring the thought into conscious awareness for analysis and then changing it through repentance and forgiveness and replacing it with the correct information (Using the word of course). Winter Conference 2011 Renewing Your Mind Billie Hunt Ministries 12
*****Information stays in the Clearing House for 24-48 hours constantly being amplified each time it swirls to the front of your thinking!!!! THE GREAT DANGER IF WE DON T STOP THINKING ABOUT THE MATTER If you do not cast down wrong thoughts they will go from your mind to your heart and become a ROOT OF BITTERNESS (Hebrews 12:15) Our Conversation Originates in Our Heart and comes from our thoughts! Matthew 15:19 Amplified For out of the heart come evil thoughts (reasonings and disputings and designs) such as murder, adultery, sexual vice, theft, false witnessing, slander and irreverent speech. And Matthew 12:34 Amplified For out of the fullness (the overflow, the superabundance) of the heart the mouth speaks. 35. The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good thing and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things. Winter Conference 2011 Renewing Your Mind Billie Hunt Ministries 13
Proverbs 4:23 NLT Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. MEDITATION (reflection) Proverbs 15:28 The mind of the uncompromisingly righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. If we are going to renew our mind, we must get out of any toxic thinking jam, we need to think, understand and apply wisdom! NO THOUGHT SHOULD EVER BE ALLOWED TO CONTROL YOU. You must learn to master your thinking. I think of the scripture where God is talking to Cain. (Genesis 4:7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not well, sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you, but you must master it. ) Satan cannot get at your spirit, so he attacks your mind. We must constantly be on alert for Satan s attacks on our mind. We must master our thinking. It is our responsibility. Proverbs 16:1 The plans of the mind and orderly thinking belong to man, but from the Lord comes the wise answer of the tongue. 2. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits (the thoughts and intents of the heart). 3. Roll your works upon the Lord (commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will and so shall your plans be established and succeed). Winter Conference 2011 Renewing Your Mind Billie Hunt Ministries 14
WE ARE DESIGNED BY GOD FOR DEEP CREATIVE THOUGHT! When we think deeply we go beyond just storing facts and answers to storing key concepts and strategies to help us grow in wisdom. The Importance of Keeping a Journal Writing down your thoughts is important because the actual process of writing Adds clarity to what you have been thinking about. It helps you see more clearly the areas of your thinking that need to be cleansed. It literally allows you to look at your brain on paper. As you write in your journal what you are thinking, you revisit each thought. As the thought comes up into your conscious mind you have an opportunity to do something with that thought. You can choose to keep the thought or change it. You not only look at how you think but how you need to rethink through your reactions, evaluating the toxicity levels and transcribing them. This is where you REACH BEYOND YOURSELF and make the decision of your will to forgive to take control of your thinking to walk in obedience. This is how you renew your mind. Winter Conference 2011 Renewing Your Mind Billie Hunt Ministries 15
The Mind/Health Connection Proverbs 14:30 Amplified A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy and wrath are like rottenness of the bones. Proverbs 17:22 Amplified A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones Your mind and body really are inherently linked, and this link starts with your thoughts so to walk in health, we must keep a renewed mind. What s inside you will determine what is outside you. Eventually negative thought patterns will affect your health and wellbeing.. Proverbs 4:23 Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. Amplified. Dr. Leaf: Chapter 2. Thoughts are basically electrical impulses, chemicals and neurons. They look like a tree with branches. As the thoughts grow and become permanent, more branches grow and the connections become stronger. As we change our thinking some branches go away, new ones form, the strength of the connections change, and the memories network with other thoughts. What an incredible capacity of the brain to Winter Conference 2011 Renewing Your Mind Billie Hunt Ministries 16
change and rewire and grow spiritually, this is the renewing of the mind. As you think, your thoughts are activated, which in turn activates your attitude, because your attitude is all of your thoughts put together and reflects your state of mind. This attitude is reflected in the chemical secretions that are released. Positive attitudes cause the secretion of the correct amount of chemicals, and negative attitudes distort the chemical secretions in a way that disrupts their natural flow. The chemicals are like little cellular signals that translate the information of your thought into a physical reality in your body and mind, creating an emotion. The combination of thoughts, emotions and resulting attitudes impacts your body in a positive or negative way. YOU HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE AFFECTS OF ALL YOUR THOUGHTS YOUR ENTIRE LIFE! Winter Conference 2011 Renewing Your Mind Billie Hunt Ministries 17