S1E21 When our mindset is the problem

Have you ever considered that you have toxic thoughts that are steering your life in a direction that isn't healthy to you or pleasing to the Lord? In this episode Miss & Rach talk with Hannah Baldwin (livingfromtheoverflow.com) about the impact our negative thoughtlives can have on our daily lives. They each share where toxic thoughts have led them and how they gained freedom in this area. We think whether you’ve considered this an issue in your life or not, you're going to learn something that will cause you to dig in deeper. 

Show Notes:

2 Cor 2:5 Take our thoughts captive, make them obedient to Christ.

Eph 4:22-24 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.“

Matthew 12:34  “....For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.”

Whatever you focus on only grows.

I get to decide what I focus on.

Am I magnifying God’s goodness, or am I magnifying my problems?

Today is a great day! It is the day the Lord has made! I rejoice and am thankful for it! (Psalm 118:24)

• Why is it a problem to have negative thoughts leading our mindset?
  • We are told in scripture that we have the mind of Christ. But no where in scripture does it tell us that Christ acted out of negative thinking patterns. His thinking was perfect and in line with the Father’s will. When we operate out of negative thinking patterns, we are not operating out of the mind of Christ that we have been given. So to entertain negative thoughts, to complain, to assume the worst, to think life isn’t fair or to think we have it worse than anyone else just simply isn’t God’s best for us. Yet so many of us walk around with thoughts like that taking up a bulk of our inner and outer narrative.
• What are the ramifications of not taking our thoughts captive?
  • Here’s the cool thing about the brain - it is always listening and acting accordingly. So if we are taking our thoughts captive, that is, if we are recognizing the thoughts that are out of line with God’s will for us, and we repent of them, and make them obedient by thinking on the things of Christ, we are teaching our brain to align with the mind of Christ. But when we don’t, just like any sin that goes unchecked, it can snowball into an unrecognizable mess. A very tangible example of that is my own story - I had absolutely no idea that my thoughts could effect everything from my perspective in life to my mental health and even down to my physical health. share about victory with food restrictions and mental health - even in my grieving journey.
• What are some things we can practically apply to start changing our mindset today?
  • Philippians 4:4-9 is one of my absolute favorite passages when it comes to mindset. Paul talks all about what can happen when we align our thoughts with the things of Christ - we can become people who are content and walk in peace.
    
    “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
    
    Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
  •  

Challenge: Am I magnifying God’s goodness in my life, or am I magnifying my problems?

Take time today to evaluate your thoughts. Set a 2 minute timer and just let whatever thoughts you think come and go. Don’t overthink it. Once these 2 minutes have passed, set another 2 minute timer and write down everything you can remember about what you thought about in the initial 2 minutes. Evaluate which ones are in line with truth, and which ones are not. Pick even just one thought that you want to take captive today to make it obedient to Christ - that is to work with the Holy Spirit to capture this thought every time you recognize it and repent of whatever you need to repent of and then recite whatever is true in its place and walk freely in the forgiveness that has been extended to you.