Last week I mentioned the Bible plan my support group was reading, about how to change your life by changing your thoughts. It was full of good insights, but good and easy are not equal partners.

Today I was mulling over the second concept—I might have to read this plan again—the author talked about the neural pathways we develop when we reinforce our negative thoughts over time. Creating new pathways seems like a challenge I will need help to establish. So come along with me and see what we can find to help us.

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.

Psalms‬ ‭40‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This psalm depicts the problem, the process, and the result. Being stuck in the mud and mire of rutted pathways, David calls on God to help. So, number one: acknowledge the problem and recognize whose help you need. Number two: wait patiently, and accept God’s help when he sets you on a new path. Number three: Praise God and share your story.

Here is a similar scripture.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.‬‬

Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭8‬ ‭NKJV

Okay, so I was planning to use a translation that uses “tearing down strongholds,” but when I read the Message version… well, wow!

The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. 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. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.‬‬

2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭3‬-‭6‬ ‭MSG

When our Bible study group was studying the brain—watching Caroline Leaf’s videos—she explained how our negative thoughts form strongholds in our brain. Let me emphasize what I’m seeing here: “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. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.‬‬”

Let me be clear, this passage is Paul talking to the church in Corinth about correcting beliefs that were contrary to the message of Christ. But, the application to our own thoughts still stands.

An old hymn came to mind as I was writing. It goes like this:

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace”

My mind has plenty of rutted neural pathways. Abandoning them for the new pathways God wants to set my feet on will be a challenge, but I’m acknowledging my stuck-ness, and I’m opening my mind up to move forward and clear every obstruction. I’m turning my eyes to Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith. (Hebrews 12:2) And I’m praising God as my thoughts align with his thoughts more and more as his Spirit continues to work within me.

I pray for this picture of God lifting you and your thoughts out of the mud and setting your feet on solid ground will come into focus in a way that will establish hope for new thoughts that remind you of God’s love and grace.

Grace & Peace,

Sandy

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