It frustrates me when people tell us things we need to do to change our life around but don’t give me the actual steps.  This Podcast today is going to give you the steps to take to renew your mind so you can be an overcomer and breakthrough any strongholds that have you bound.  Take a listen.  I believe you will enjoy.  The steps are easy.

Listen as a Podcast!

“I’d Prefer to Read Your Message!”

Welcome friends to my Podcast, Giving You a Fresh Start After Trauma.  I’m so glad you are here.  Stay with me for just a few minutes as I give you the steps to renew your mind.

In my prior two emails, I discussed the importance of renewing our minds to walk in the fullness of physical, mental and emotional health.  Sometimes it’s hard to know if our mind needs to be renewed because the voice that we seem to listen to in our thoughts makes us think it’s our own voice.

That’s why knowing truth is important so we can weigh what we are thinking against that truth.  For me to get truth, I go to the Word of God.  That’s my baseline for life.  For example, God’s Word says, “He created me in His image.”  If I am created in His image, then I’m not stupid.

What’s the voice inside you saying?

So, when that voice inside of me says, “See you can’t do that or you can’t learn that because you are too stupid” I need to shut that voice and thinking off and not let it have a room in my head.  Letting it ruminate in my mind is only to my detriment. Sadly, I did let these thoughts take over my thinking for years.

My heart did not  want to not feel that I was stupid, and at times I would even say to myself, “You are not stupid.”  But the minute I would fail at something or struggle learning something, I would open that door and let it in again.  I didn’t fight it and stop it from taking place in my mind.  So, every time I let it in, it got stronger and stronger to the point that it became a stronghold in my life.

What is a stronghold?

Websters 1820 Dictionary says,

1. A fastness; a fort; a fortified place; a place of security

A stronghold is fort that is fortified as a place of security.  Now on one hand you would think that it’s a good place.  But as good as a fort can be to protect you from outside enemies is as bad as it can be because it doesn’t let the good or the truth in.  It can seem like it’s a secure place because it’s preventing you from stepping out and taking a risk.

See my stronghold would say to me, “Oh don’t go there.  Don’t take that risk.  Let me protect you and keep you safe in this fort.  I don’t want you to have to face being stupid so let me hold you back and keep you from moving forward.”

 What a lie that was.  I resisted stepping out, learning something new, trying a new craft or project because I didn’t want that reminder to poke its ugly head.  My rational was if I stay in that fort, I won’t be reminded that I am stupid.  Sadly, it prevented me from much in my life.

What are the specifics or actual steps to renew your mind?

1. We need to find out first what is the truth about what is coming against you. As I said for me, I compare my issues with what the Word of God says.  If I were to get a dis-ease, I would want to know what God says about being sick.  If I have levels of anxiety, I want to know what God says about my anxiety.  When I feel alone or abandoned, I don’t need to take on rejection.
2. It’s important to walk in gratitude and thanksgiving.God says to “enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.”  We don’t thank God for our problem per se.  We thank Him for what the truth is about our problem and that we trust Him for the answers, strategy or plan to get out of it.  God inhabits the praises of His people, and His  Word is full of promises that belong to us if we will receive them.
3. Understand that if you have accepted Christ in your life, the Father is with you every moment of everyday and you don’t need to battle your issue alone.
4. Thank the Lord for the good in your life. Some people say, “Oh I don’t feel like there is any good in my life.”  That’s a lie that would behoove you to let go of.  There is good in your life, but you could be so focused on your issue(s) that you can’t see it.  Let me help you.  You are breathing right now, right?  You probably ate today.  You have a place to live … just to name a few.
5. Now this is the meat of what you need to do. Once you have the truth about your situation, then that is something you need to hold onto.  When the lies pop into your head you are going to need to stop it.  You will need to say, “Nope I’m not going there.”  The minute you entertain those thoughts, it has you.  Understand that the level of worry or fear that comes against you is the same level that you will need to declare the truth of what God says about it.
6. Now if you do begin to entertain those negative thoughts, don’t beat yourself up. Just ask the Lord to forgive you for holding those lies again and giving them power.  Then begin to speak His truth.  Why do we need to speak the truth?  Because when we audibly hear something, it seems to have more power than our thoughts.
7. How often do you speak out the truth? As often as you can.  It can be multiple times in an hour depending on the strength of the stronghold you are in.  Let me give you an example.  One of my favorite Scriptures is “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  I’ve had this in my heart since I became a believer 32 years ago.

Here’s an example of what I mean!

So now I’m going to start a new project.  Let’s say write a course.  Those old records start to pop up in my head, “Regina you are too stupid to do this.  What makes you think you have the knowledge to put this together.”  My first response would be “nope I’m not going there” and then I would proceed with my writing.

As I’m writing, I would be saying things like, “Thank you Lord that I can do all things through You because Your Word says you are strengthening me.”  Or I might say, “Thank You Lord for Your strength right now as You are with me as I am working on this project.”  I could say this many times during my writing session … especially if the old records keep trying to play.

There will come a time when you won’t need to do this because you have renewed your mind and have become an overcomer.   Those old lies will lose their power over you.  Remember “death and life” are in the power of the tongue.  Don’t speak death over yourself or let it ruminate in your mind.

If you struggle with trying to uncover what the counterpart to the lies that are playing in your mind are, please reach out.  I will help you get to the truth.

Your Spiritual Life & Health Coach … believing in you!

Please share this message with someone you know who needs to be encouraged!