Dolly Parton warned us in the song “9 to 5” that they’d use our mind and never give us credit. That has proven true for many of us. It has also been altered to an unnatural existence. Unwise words have infiltrated the sacred space where our thoughts reside. We are left wondering how on earth we get back to level ground. Good news and bad news. We are not going back. The only way to heal your mind is to bring all of the parts of yourself into what you create. Carry all of the beautiful, unkempt, hard, and hopeful bits of you into it. Leverage everything for your healing.
We have an abundance of Christian phrases that are meant to help or correct us. I wonder if many of us know what they mean? How exactly do we capture our thoughts? Do we grab them and march them off to jail? Do we grab them out of the air with a butterfly net? It is hard to know what thoughts to even catch. Culture is constantly telling us that people are disposable if they upset us in any way. We are misinformed about what a good thought actually looks like. Thankfully, scripture is our standard and that standard does not change based on circumstance. Jamie Winship, in his video series entitled “Knowing Rediscovered”, reminds us that the Lord is above culture. That frees us up to trust God and examine our minds with one true source.
Scripture is our standard and that standard does not change based on circumstance.
In CS Lewis’ The Great Divorce, a busload of people are given a trip to paradise. We follow each of them through an exasperating journey with their own thoughts. Simple, seemingly harmless phrases lead them to deny paradise and believe that a hellish place of mental self-indulgence is a better choice than paradise. They embraced torture over freedom. One scholar believes that the people and their thoughts represent the seven deadly sins. One way to capture your thoughts is to recognize what is holding other people captive. Another is to examine our thoughts by a few brave words in scripture that call out the most true parts of who we are created to be.
“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” Philippians 4:8 (NIV).
The mind of Christ is in us. It did not supernaturally replace our mind, but we have unlimited access to it and to the person of Jesus. The same way that those around us impact who we are and what we think, the mind of Christ changes who we are when we engage with Him. He has given us an anecdote to the allure of the seven deadly sins. We find it tucked in our Bibles in the middle of the New Testament. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV).
Renewing your mind is a battle. There is strategic warfare plotted by the enemy against your ability to use your mind wisely and well. We create ruts and synapses in our brain as a result of hurt, abuse, and false hope. Science has shown us the myth that ‘you cannot heal your mind’ has been disproved. You can create new pathways to a different life.
Be still. Nourish and nurture what is lovely. God is fighting for you.
God loves to heal. You are not in a battle with yourself. Shame and condemnation for the weak parts of yourself will not win the day. Be still. Nourish and nurture what is lovely. God is fighting for you. Ask Him for what you need.
Gratitude and joy help to train your brain to seek out moments of gratitude through neuroplasticity. Meaning, your brain can create a new neural pathway by actions like simply noticing what is beautiful, hopeful, inspiring, or kind right where you are. Thankfulness is generative. It creates deeper sleep, more fulfilling relationships, improved brain function, and regulates cortisol so that you have less stress. Gratitude improves heart health. Imagine that.
When we stop to see the things that we can be grateful for, we allow our minds a glimpse of the kingdom of God and refuse to remain aloof to where He is working in our lives. We can take joy right out of our everyday circumstances. I am grateful and overjoyed to think about God and have the opportunity to share what I see with you. Your turn.
- Dolly Parton, “9 to 5”, 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs, RCA, November 17, 1980.
- Jamie Winship, on video in his course Knowing Rediscovered, video 5, https://www.identityexchange.com/knowingrediscovered
- Lewis, C. S. 1898-1963. 2001. The Great Divorce: A Dream. New York, HarperOne.
Author Info
Steph Cherry
Steph Cherry is the CEO of The Boho Table, a non-profit providing care for the homeless. She and her husband Denbigh are restoring a three-story mansion outside of Austin, TX to use as a retreat for the weary. Her favorite job is raising her three girls and adventuring with her family.