Positive Thinking for ChristiansPositive thinking for Christians is more than repeating positive words to yourself. It means speaking biblical truths into your mind and into your life. The bible is filled with the many promises of God. These promises are meant to encourage us and bring us into the peace of God. In scripture we are told what to think.I believe God knew exactly the struggles that many of us would face. So many of the answers we need can be found in the Bible. "Finally, brothers, 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." Philippians 4:8-9 I find it interesting that today, cognitive-behavioral therapy is found to be one of the most effective methods for combating stress, anxiety and depression; And yet the same answer was written in the bible all those years ago. Cognitive is how you relate with your mind. Behavioral is how you behave based on what you are thinking. Using truth thinking is an effective method for the "cognitive" approach to recovery. While making the choice to act in faith based on those truths, would be considered the "behavioral" approach to recovery. Therefore, it's easy to conclude that the bible teaches the basics of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Amazing huh? 2 Corinthians 10:5 says "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ"
So how do you take your thoughts captive?The first step would be to recognize them! You can't change what you don't acknowledge. If you are not aware of what is going on in your mind, then you will not be able to sort through your thoughts to see which ones are true and which ones should be taken hostage. We are so good at lying to ourselves or believing the lies that we are told. Journaling is a great way to get in touch with the things you say to yourself on a daily basis. Don't worry about what to write. Instead, write down every thought that comes to your mind automatically. By doing this, you will be able to reread what you wrote and look for those things that are negative and untrue. So how do you make your thoughts obedient?Second step would be to change them! Once you find your negative, untrue thoughts, it's time to begin telling yourself the truth! For every negative, untrue thought you find, write down a more positive, truthful thought in it's place. It's all about positive thought replacement. If you struggle with this, ask yourself, "What does the bible have to say?". Take the time to research and find out! Third step is to repeat the truth! Once you find replacement thoughts, you need to make yourself repeat them each time you find yourself thinking those old thoughts. Repetition is extremely important! Without repetition, you will not be able to adopt your new thoughts as your own. If you are having a hard time finding biblical truths for thought replacement, consider the biblical verses below to give you a head start! You are united with the Lord and you
are one with him in Spirit. You have been bought with a price and
you belong to God. You are part of the body of Christ. You have been chosen by God and adopted
as His Child. You have been redeemed and forgiven of
your sins. You are complete in Christ. You have access to the throne of grace
through Christ. You are free from condemnation. God works all things together
for good. Nothing can separate you from the love
of God. You are God's Workmanship. You have not been given the spirit of
fear but instead power, love and a sound mind. You can do all things through Christ
who gives you strength. You may approach God with freedom and
confidence. The more you affirm the truth, the more confidence you will have in the truth! There are quite a few books that provide Christian encouragement that have helped me along my spiritual path in regards to anxiety, panic and depression. These books are loaded with Christian encouragement. I have listed some of them below. To read more about these books and others helpful books that I have read visit book reviews. Remember, you are never alone in your struggles. There is a God who loves you and who wants to use these struggles to empower you and strengthen you. If you need to talk to someone who understands and has been there, please contact me.
Return from Positive Thinking for Christians to Sound Mind Christian Home |
|
