The Garden of Your Mind Sample

Inside our brain, we have neural pathways which are formed over time. They are the patterns of thinking that develop like train tracks which have a start point and the same destination. These thoughts follow pathways without a conscious decision. I make my cup of English tea daily the same way- without even thinking. For 40 years!

But we have the power and our brains have the neuroplasticity to redirect those negative trains of thoughts…..

Someone else can do this better than me…

When something goes wrong, God must be punishing me…

I will never break free from this…

…..and create new patterns of thinking.

God has uniquely positioned me to use my gifts in His anointing

When something goes wrong- I can accept my limitations and seek God for wisdom.

I can break free because His power at work within me makes anything possible

I simplify the process of mind renewal into 4 steps:

1. Identify

You cannot change what you do not identify. So slow down your thinking. Ask yourself some probing questions. 

Does this thinking align with who I am in Christ?

Does this thinking take me in a negative spiral?

Does this thought make me feel insecure, useless, proud, defeated?

2. Capture.

Interrupt that negative thought and seize it- do not let it rest there. It does not belong.

Become an expert at pulling out your thoughts and stopping to think about what you are thinking about! You might even want to write it down.

3. Renew

Reshape it immediately in your mind with the truth from God’s Word.

Give that scripture authority and make it YOURS- put your name in it and start declaring it. Your mind needs to hear God’s truth because that’s how faith rises!

4. Repeat

Be faithful to the journey and do not give up. It can take weeks and months to renew patterns of thinking but you will reap a harvest of beauty in the garden of your mind when you do not give up!