Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book,  Winning the War in Your Mind   (p. 127). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) That is very true, isn't it? Craig says, " There are sad moments in life that we can get stuck in forever. They are not the moments we want to freeze-frame, but too often we do. Those formative moments can become the lens through which we view what happens for the rest of our lives. They form our cognitive bias, the frame we use to define our reality. We need to unfreeze our frames. We need to go back and rewrite the narrative we have been telling ourselves." He goes on, "So how do we reframe our past? We thank God for what he didn’t do. We look for God’s goodness. "Thanking God for what he’s done is easy for most of us. But I’ve learned to also thank God for what he didn’t do. "To discover those blessings can take a long time, but when you finally have that aha moment—wow!" He tell...

  A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book,  Winning the War in Your Mind   (p. 121). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Here are some steps. Craig says, " Experts in the psychotherapeutic world share steps that help us to reframe, to take control of our thoughts and overcome our cognitive bias, such as: Stay calm . If you react, you will probably react the way you’ve always reacted.  Identify the situation . What exactly, and truly, is happening?  Identify your automatic thoughts. If something at my house breaks and I know it will be an expensive repair, my automatic response is to panic just a little bit. But while I cannot control what breaks, I can control how I perceive it. So instead of just thinking my automatic thought, I identify that thought. I can take it captive and make it obedient to Christ. Then I take an additional step:  Find objective supportive evidence. I want to deal in realit...

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book,  Winning the War in Your Mind   (p. 116). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) And that is so true. Craig says, " We could say a lens with a distorted view will make lies seem like they’re true. "I wonder how often you see what you expect instead of what’s really there—reality the way reality really is." He goes on, "Social psychologists have a name for our distorted lenses. They call it a cognitive bias. The term refers to a standardized, consistent pattern of deviating from reality in how we see and process things. If you have a cognitive bias, you create a subjective reality. That construction of your reality, not actual reality, will dictate how you respond and behave in the world. "That’s a kind of scholarly way of thinking about cognitive bias, but you don’t need that explanation. You see people with a cognitive bias all the time." He gives an example, ...

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book,  Winning the War in Your Mind   (p. 105). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) We do a lot of that. Craig says, " Automaticity is the ability to do things without thinking about what you are doing. When repetition allows an action to become unconscious, automatic." He goes on, "When you take a shower, you don’t wonder, What part of me should I wash first? How do I wash my hair? There are so many things to think about. No, you get in the shower and do everything you need to do without thinking. While one part of your brain is taking care of cleaning you up, another part is thinking about the day to come or the day you just had. Automaticity. "But automaticity is also why you keep doing things you don’t want to do. Repetition has led to negative, harmful things becoming automatic." He continues, "The goal of meditating on God’s Word and on our declarations is autom...

  A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book,  Winning the War in Your Mind   (p. 103). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Okay, that is good to know. Craig says, " He is very repetitive. He knows that if he tells you a lie often enough, you will eventually believe it. Craig goes on, "So how will you overcome his lies? How will you replace the old rut with a new pathway? The answer is repetition. "You are going to write it, think it, and confess it until you believe it." He continues, "Speaking your declarations once will not really do anything. You have been told lies over and over, and you now need to tell yourself the truth over and over. Meditate, chew, ruminate, swallow, repeat. As Napoleon Hill said, 'Any idea, plan, or purpose may be placed in the mind by repetition of thought.' Repetition is what created the old rut. Repetition is what will create the new trench. "Write it, think it, confe...

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book,  Winning the War in Your Mind   (p. 83). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Okay, that makes since. Craig says, " We focus solely on the behavior by making a commitment to start or stop doing something."  He goes on, "You’ve done this too, right? You’ve decided, perhaps even declared, that you were going to change. I’m going to quit smoking on January 1st!  This year I’m going to eat healthy and exercise every day!  I’m going to stop dating anyone who is mean to me. In fact, I’m not going to date at all!  I’m tired of wasting my time on social media and comparing my life with everyone else’s. I’m getting off for good this time!  That’s it. This is the last time. I will never look at pornography again!  I’m not going to exaggerate or lie or gossip to get attention or feel better about myself.  No more! I’m going to read the Bible every morning ...

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book,  Winning the War in Your Mind   (p. 70). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) And that is what we want or is it? Craig says, " Of course, you already knew that, but you may never have understood why. As a neural pathway forms in your brain, thinking a thought or taking an action can go from very difficult to very easy. With enough repetition, falling into a neurological rut will become automatic. "God created neural pathways to be a good thing. When you learned to drive, you were unsure of yourself; you fumbled through it, going too easy on the gas and slamming on the brakes, turning the wrong way when you drove in reverse. Today driving is simple for you." He goes on, "Have you ever been driving on a long road trip, gone deep into thought, and then after several minutes went by, suddenly snapped out of it? Who was driving while you were momentarily checked out? Well, you w...

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book,  Winning the War in Your Mind   (p. 35). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) And that is what we need to know, isn't it? Earlier Craig says, " Satan will whisper accusing questions and deceptive statements. He schemes to twist your mind, because if he can, he then diverts you from your purpose, distracts you from God’s voice, destroys your potential. "If he can get you to believe a lie, your life will be affected as if that lie were true." He continues, "Unfortunately, Satan’s lies are easy to believe. Why? Part of the reason is that because of sin, we have a flawed internal lie detector. God warned us: 'The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure' (Jer. 17:9). 'There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death' (Prov. 14:12). " That’s definitely the problem, so what’s our solution? How do we access God’s power t...

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book,  Winning the War in Your Mind   (p. 35). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Good question! Craig says, " Know this: You cannot defeat what you cannot define. You have to identify the lie that has become a stronghold for you. You must realize the negative impact it’s had on you and others. "Do you see how you have become a prisoner of deception, locked up by a lie you believe is true? If you are going to change your life, you have to change your thinking. Demolish your strongholds." He goes on, "If you want to truly change your life, you cannot just change your behavior. Even if you change your actions for a while, the original issue will just reestablish itself. That’s why Christianity has never been about behavior modification; it’s about life transformation. "We’ve all experienced that frustration, right? We make a New Year’s resolution or some commitment to start ...

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book,  Winning the War in Your Mind   (p. 20). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) That is so true. Craig also says, " If, on the other hand, you think you can, odds are you will. The same is true with your problems. If you dwell on them, they will overwhelm you. But if you look for solutions, you will find some." He goes on, "If you feel like a victim, you’ll think like a victim, and the direction of your life could be one of misery. But if you believe that by the power of Christ you can overcome, then with his help you can. Consider this:  Who you are today is a result of your thoughts in the past.  Who you become in the future will reflect what you think about today." He continues, "Whether it’s self-doubts or worrying or responding poorly to a bad day or a tough season in life, we all wrestle with negative thoughts that try to hijack our emotions and decisions." He...

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book,  Winning the War in Your Mind   (p. 12). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Do you believe that? Craig says, " (Some still do. Don’t believe me? Google it. You’ll find there are 'Flat Earthers' today.) Because they believed the wrong idea, it impacted their lives as if it were true. People would not venture too far out in the ocean for fear they might sail off the edge. Why? Once again, a lie believed as truth will affect your life as if it were true." He goes on, "Growing up, a lot of us were told that going swimming right after eating wasn’t safe. Our parents made us wait thirty minutes after a meal to get in the pool. The only problem is that it’s not dangerous to swim after eating. That was and is a lie. Right now you may be thinking, No, I’m pretty sure that’s true. But it isn’t! Yet we believed it, so the lie affected our lives as if it were true. "Missing ...

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book, Winning the War in Your Mind   (p. 1). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Yes it does! Craig says, " So you might read that and think I’m being an overly dramatic preacher using hyperbole to get your attention. But this is no exaggeration. Our lives do follow the direction of our thoughts. The better we grasp that truth, the better equipped we’ll be to change the trajectory of our lives. But don’t take my word for it. Both the Bible and modern science provide evidence that this is true. So throughout this book, we’ll unpack both Scripture and what we’ve learned from scientific research. Here’s a brief example of both: "In Philippians 4:8–9, the apostle Paul writes, '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. Wh...

A thought by Craig Groeschel, from his book, Dangerous Prayers Because Following Jesus Was Never Meant to Be Safe , Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book) That is what we want, isn’t it? Craig says, “Are you ready to pray this dangerous prayer? Are you prepared to hear what God might show you as you do? Do you have the faith to ask and the courage to obey? Search my heart, God. Reveal my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me. And lead me in the way everlasting.” He goes on, “Every phrase in this faith-filled cry to God is important. But it’s incomplete without the final passionate prayer—lead me in the way everlasting. “We don’t want God to just show us the impurity of our hearts. We want more than to simply know our fearful and anxious thoughts. We desire more than just knowing how we are offensive. We want God to lead us, to direct us, to guide us to become who he wants us to be.” He cont...

A thought by Craig Groeschel, from his book,  Dangerous Prayers:   Because Following Jesus Was Never Meant to Be Safe ,   Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book) Is there? Craig says, “Maybe some people have suggested that you play video games way too much. They are concerned that you have more to offer, that you are missing out on more important things in life. “Perhaps someone has suggested that you drink too much. Or have a problem with pain medication. Or overeating. I f more than two trusted friends or family members have suggested this, maybe it’s time to pause and pay attention. “Maybe you have had a bad run at dating. Your friends continue to remind you that you are always saying yes to the wrong kind of person. Rather than defending your actions, perhaps it’s time to consider changing your patterns.” He goes on, “In recent years, I finally had to pause and recognize something that was...

A thought by Craig Groeschel, from his book, Dangerous Prayers , Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) This is another part of the dangerous prayer that David prayed. Craig says, “David was called ‘a man after God’s own heart’ (see 1 Sam. 13:14 and Acts 13:22). He was devoted to God’s will and worshiped passionately, gave extravagantly, and led courageously. Yet he still made mistakes—big ones. Like you and like me, he was tempted to sin and didn’t always make the right choice. Even after he knew the goodness of God and had walked with him for most of his life, David still blew it. And that’s why he prayed this dangerous portion of the prayer: ‘Search me, God . . . know my anxious thoughts. . . . See if there is any offensive way in me’ (Ps. 139:23–24). “Show me if I am doing anything that offends or hurts your heart. ” Craig goes on, “Hearing God’s response to this portion of the pra...

A thought by Craig Groeschel, from his book, Dangerous Prayers :  Because Following Jesus Was Never Meant to Be Safe ,   Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) That is a very good question, isn’t it?  Thanks for asking it, Craig. He says, “I’m not talking about normal external fears like snakes, spiders, or the fear of flying. I’m wondering what keeps you up at night, those things that ricochet in your mind and refuse to be quieted. Things like losing your job. Not getting married. Or being stuck in a bad marriage. Having your health fail. Draining your savings account just to get by. “We don’t know what exact fears were running through David’s mind, but it’s clear he was troubled about his safety and perhaps his future. Because after asking God to search his heart, David prayed, ‘know my anxious thoughts’ (Ps. 139:23). He wanted to share his worst fears with God. To face them and give them a name. To ...

A thought by Craig Groeschel, from his book, Dangerous Prayers , Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) That is a great thought and it is so true! Craig says, “We’re told in the Bible that we can ‘come boldly to the throne of our gracious God’ (Heb. 4:16a NLT). We don’t have to approach timidly or feel awkward—we can come before him with confidence, assurance, and boldness. When we pray this way, then ‘we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most’ (Heb. 4:16b NLT).” Later Craig says, “In the Old Testament we see David squaring off against God’s enemies left and right. In a raging fit of jealousy, King Saul falsely accused David of treason and attempting to assassinate the king. . . And he knew how to hit where it hurts—he claimed David wasn’t faithful to his God. “With all his heart, David wanted to please God. He fought against his anger in order to protect and show honor to ...

A thought by Craig Groeschel, from his book, Dangerous Prayers , Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Prayer is very personal. Craig says, “There’s certainly nothing wrong with reading a prayer or using someone else’s words to pray. In fact, reading prayers can be a good starting point in learning to pray your own. Over time, though, if you want to know God intimately, you will begin to pray more unscripted prayers that come straight from your heart. As your faith grows, your prayers will likely well up deep inside you. You may not even know how to express them in words. They’re simply communication between you and your Father, the living God Almighty. Deeply personal and just as unique as your fingerprint.” He goes on, “You don’t have to look far in the Psalms to see the honest cries from the heart of David. He questioned God. He complained to God. He petitioned God. From the depths of his soul, David cried out to ...

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book, Dare to Drop the Pose (p. 153). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) He does, he does.   And that is so encouraging, isn’t it? Craig asks, “So what have others told you that you can’t do? Be an effective teacher? Start a business? Raise great kids? Lead an organization? Get out of debt? Write a book? Lead a Bible study? “God uses the unlikely.   He may do through you what others say can’t be done. He loves to use people who others don’t believe are ready. God has put more in you than those around you can see. And He looks past what the world looks for. God isn’t searching for great looks, a full head of hair, the perfect figure, or the smartest or funniest person. “God is looking at what He put in you: quiet faith, untapped courage, dormant gifts. Others look at the outside. God sees His perfect work on the inside.” Craig goes on, “One...