OVERCOMING NEGATIVE THOUGHTS - by Brent Lokker

Negative thoughts running through our minds and tearing at the fabric of our joy is a universal problem. Jesus is the universal answer, if we will trust him to tell us what the truth is and agree with his assessment.   Theologian Richard Rohr states, “Jesus came to teach us the way of wisdom by bringing us a message that offers to liberate us from both the lies of the world and the lies lodged within ourselves.”   This is precisely what the Apostle Paul is getting at when he writes, “The weapons of the war we’re fighting are not of this world but are powered by God and effective at tearing down the strongholds erected against His truth. We are demolishing arguments and ideas…We are taking prisoners of every thought, every emotion, and subduing them into obedience to the Anointed One, Jesus.” 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (VOICE)    If you would like to hear more about how every thought (healthy as well as negative) takes up space in your brain, making those thoughts feel incredibly real, and how God created our brains physiologically to change according to what we believe, please watch or listen to last Saturday’s message here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGE7nQBNPCc   To overcome negative thinking patterns based upon lies we were told all the way back to our childhood, here’s a practical way to agree with God and change the way we think to reflect what He knows to be accurate so our self-deprecating struggles will continually diminish. Remember, you can’t do this on your own. If you’re ready for God’s help to transform lies into life-giving truth, pray this and keep praying it as many times a day as you need help:   Holy Spirit, Help me pay closer attention to my wandering thoughts that can take me down unhealthy paths.to capture them with you. Help me discern which thoughts are true, healthy and affirming and which thoughts are false, destructive and toxic. Help me recognize the toxic thoughts quickly so we can renounce them out loud together (renounce means to reject them as false, i.e. “This thought isn’t true about me! I don’t agree with this! I reject and renounce this toxic though as a lie.”) Remind me what is true so we can declare, out loud, life-giving, encouraging thoughts in place of the lie. (Often these are “I am” statements of how God sees you rather than what the lies are telling you, i.e. “I am faithful. I am filled with light. I have a spirit of self-control,” etc.)   As you persist in affirming your authentic self the way God sees you, your brain will undergo transformation and the lies will dissipate more and more. You will not only increasingly love yourself the way God does, but you will also increasingly love others the way God does. This is transformation of the highest level in God’s kingdom.