How would answer hat question? I say it’s because we are in bondage. One who is in bondage suffers captivity of some sort. Not literal chains or bars, but in beliefs and behavior. We cannot spend day after day in this world without it affecting our minds, our hearts, and our souls. They become unguarded. Our hearts start to shift away from God. And the ironic thing is the harder we work to become free, the more freedom we seem to lose.
Most often we aren’t even aware this is happening. We go about our business believing all is well, but deep down inside something feels wrong. If we live with something long enough, we don’t pay attention to it. This is the way life is supposed to work out! That’s bondage. David cried to God, “How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?” (Ps. 13:2, my emphasis). His soul is conflicted.
A major portion of understanding how our past influences the present is becoming aware of the three major influences in our lives and then learning how to resist them. Toxic thinking is influenced by three different, but related, ways: through the world, through spiriutal warfare, and through our own flesh--our own nature. These negative influences commonly work together to lead people away from God, negatively affecting our beliefs, thinking, and behavior. These are our conflict zones. Next week we'll talk about "the world."
This is an excerpt from the book: Breaking the Cover Girl Mask
Check out my website: www.olivebranchoutreach.com/edindex.htlm for lots of inspiration, Scripture and help.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Negative Thinking Stifles Good Health
Let’s do an attitude check. If someone were to follow you around this week, how would they describe you?
1. Gracious or cranky?
2. Complimentary or critical?
3. Encouraging or bitter?
Our attitudes are important to health and success in life. Our lives affect those we have contact with, either positively or negatively. Because emotions and behaviors involve a complex interplay between the heart, the mind, and the body, it benefits us to know how our mind is influenced and how our brain works.
Your body believes every word you say! We do not merely experience anger in our minds, we feel it biologically in our body—our muscles tense and stomachs ache. Understanding ourselves, and other people, is critical to mind change and our overall growth. If we were to look at our brain, we may see a dark abscess caused by the stronghold of anger. The same is true for envy, anxiety, lust, fear, depression, and other emotions.
The Bible says, “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones” (Prov. 14:30). There is a direct correlation between pessimistic, toxic thinking and illness. If we do not have a change of mind, we can actually make ourselves sick! Our body truly speaks our mind.
Even as a Christian, my mind continued to create negative thoughts, which translated into bad feelings and behaviors. Not only was my mind and heart tormented, but so was my physical body. I was diagnosed with lupus, gastritis, and shingles. No question, what you think influences your biological body. Toxic thinking can manifest itself in bodily symptoms such as cancer, diabetes, allergies, to name a few.
Research confirms some of our behaviors actually prevent us from being our best selves. The reasons may be varied, from psychological or biological causes to spiritual warfare, or a combination. We know our brain speaks to our body and vice versa. There is an ongoing symphony of chemicals playing through your body twenty-four hours a day. Our way of thinking affects the functioning of that whole electrical-chemical cycle. When the cycle is upset, all sorts of illnesses and injuries can result, impairing our ability to decipher truth and live a fulfilling life.
Finding the root cause does not excuse bad behavior or lessen the need to seek spiritual or therapeutic help. Rather, it allows us to better understand why we do what we do so we might choose better alternatives.
I will be exploring many of those alternatives in upcoming blogs.
This is an excerpt from the book: Breaking the Cover Girl Mask
Check out my website: www.olivebranchoutreach.com/edindex.htlm for lots of inspiration, Scripture and help.
1. Gracious or cranky?
2. Complimentary or critical?
3. Encouraging or bitter?
Our attitudes are important to health and success in life. Our lives affect those we have contact with, either positively or negatively. Because emotions and behaviors involve a complex interplay between the heart, the mind, and the body, it benefits us to know how our mind is influenced and how our brain works.
Your body believes every word you say! We do not merely experience anger in our minds, we feel it biologically in our body—our muscles tense and stomachs ache. Understanding ourselves, and other people, is critical to mind change and our overall growth. If we were to look at our brain, we may see a dark abscess caused by the stronghold of anger. The same is true for envy, anxiety, lust, fear, depression, and other emotions.
The Bible says, “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones” (Prov. 14:30). There is a direct correlation between pessimistic, toxic thinking and illness. If we do not have a change of mind, we can actually make ourselves sick! Our body truly speaks our mind.
Even as a Christian, my mind continued to create negative thoughts, which translated into bad feelings and behaviors. Not only was my mind and heart tormented, but so was my physical body. I was diagnosed with lupus, gastritis, and shingles. No question, what you think influences your biological body. Toxic thinking can manifest itself in bodily symptoms such as cancer, diabetes, allergies, to name a few.
Research confirms some of our behaviors actually prevent us from being our best selves. The reasons may be varied, from psychological or biological causes to spiritual warfare, or a combination. We know our brain speaks to our body and vice versa. There is an ongoing symphony of chemicals playing through your body twenty-four hours a day. Our way of thinking affects the functioning of that whole electrical-chemical cycle. When the cycle is upset, all sorts of illnesses and injuries can result, impairing our ability to decipher truth and live a fulfilling life.
Finding the root cause does not excuse bad behavior or lessen the need to seek spiritual or therapeutic help. Rather, it allows us to better understand why we do what we do so we might choose better alternatives.
I will be exploring many of those alternatives in upcoming blogs.
This is an excerpt from the book: Breaking the Cover Girl Mask
Check out my website: www.olivebranchoutreach.com/edindex.htlm for lots of inspiration, Scripture and help.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Why are we so unhappy with our bodies?
Body Image and Self-Esteem
I don’t think any of us would disagree that we are under pressure to measure up to a certain social and cultural ideal of beauty, which can lead to poor body image. Images we see daily can reinforce an already negative opinion we have of our body, leading us to believe we are overweight and not able to meet the “perfect” American standard.
Family and friends can influence our body image with positive and/or negative comments. Doctors and other professionals also have a powerful impact on our body image. Their comments may be delivered as health advice, but if misinterpreted, affects how we perceive our body.
We all have days when we feel awkward or uncomfortable in our bodies. The key to developing positive body image is to recognize and respect our natural shape and learn to overpower those negative thoughts and feelings with positive, affirming, and accepting thoughts. Accept yourself. Accept your body. Celebrate yourself. Celebrate your body.
What is body image?
Slowly over time, you developed your body image based on what your family, boyfriend(s), and/or husband(s), coaches, and teachers told you. Add to that thousands of daily media messages from magazines, novels, television, music, and you start to believe that you’re fat or ugly. All these negative thoughts and beliefs can lead down a self-destructive path unless you know how to recognize and cope with them. A woman with a healthy body image respects her body, takes care of her body, and keeps her body in perspective.
What is self-esteem? Self-esteem is defined as “a confidence and satisfaction in oneself.” It is your overall evaluation of your self-worth and how you value your own attributes. How high or low your self-esteem is depends on how you compare what you’d like to be with how you actually see yourself.
Research shows that girls lose twenty-three percent of their self-esteem between elementary and middle school. A study by the American Association of University Women found only twenty-nine percent of high school girls were happy with themselves.
Psychologists describe key components of self-esteem as how you evaluate yourself in terms of important characteristics like what you are good at, what you are not so good at, and the kinds of situations you prefer or avoid.
Most of our feelings about ourselves are built into us in childhood. If we were fortunate to have loving parents who conveyed our worth in their relationship to us, and if we grew up in a safe environment with positive relationships with peers, teachers, and role models, then it is likely we will feel reasonably good about ourselves. However, if faced with negative influences in childhood, it may not take much to tip the balance the other way.
“The body is a sacred garment. It’s your first and last garment; it is what you enter life in and what you depart life with, and it should be treated with honor.” –Martha Graham
Read this excerpt from “I’m Beautiful? Why Can’t I See It?” by Kimberly Davidson.
I don’t think any of us would disagree that we are under pressure to measure up to a certain social and cultural ideal of beauty, which can lead to poor body image. Images we see daily can reinforce an already negative opinion we have of our body, leading us to believe we are overweight and not able to meet the “perfect” American standard.
Family and friends can influence our body image with positive and/or negative comments. Doctors and other professionals also have a powerful impact on our body image. Their comments may be delivered as health advice, but if misinterpreted, affects how we perceive our body.
We all have days when we feel awkward or uncomfortable in our bodies. The key to developing positive body image is to recognize and respect our natural shape and learn to overpower those negative thoughts and feelings with positive, affirming, and accepting thoughts. Accept yourself. Accept your body. Celebrate yourself. Celebrate your body.
What is body image?
Slowly over time, you developed your body image based on what your family, boyfriend(s), and/or husband(s), coaches, and teachers told you. Add to that thousands of daily media messages from magazines, novels, television, music, and you start to believe that you’re fat or ugly. All these negative thoughts and beliefs can lead down a self-destructive path unless you know how to recognize and cope with them. A woman with a healthy body image respects her body, takes care of her body, and keeps her body in perspective.
What is self-esteem? Self-esteem is defined as “a confidence and satisfaction in oneself.” It is your overall evaluation of your self-worth and how you value your own attributes. How high or low your self-esteem is depends on how you compare what you’d like to be with how you actually see yourself.
Research shows that girls lose twenty-three percent of their self-esteem between elementary and middle school. A study by the American Association of University Women found only twenty-nine percent of high school girls were happy with themselves.
Psychologists describe key components of self-esteem as how you evaluate yourself in terms of important characteristics like what you are good at, what you are not so good at, and the kinds of situations you prefer or avoid.
Most of our feelings about ourselves are built into us in childhood. If we were fortunate to have loving parents who conveyed our worth in their relationship to us, and if we grew up in a safe environment with positive relationships with peers, teachers, and role models, then it is likely we will feel reasonably good about ourselves. However, if faced with negative influences in childhood, it may not take much to tip the balance the other way.
“The body is a sacred garment. It’s your first and last garment; it is what you enter life in and what you depart life with, and it should be treated with honor.” –Martha Graham
Read this excerpt from “I’m Beautiful? Why Can’t I See It?” by Kimberly Davidson.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Replace Negative Self-talk with the Positive
Henry Ford said, “If you believe you can and if you believe you can’t, you’re right.”
Many women fear confronting the memories of the past. Why do we need to? To know the why opens the door to seeing the possibility of seeing the seriousness of a problem and the need for more than “Just stop” or “Go away thought.” Often mere behavior modification isn’t the answer. Recognition of the motivation behind the thought or behavior reveals our need to avail ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit so he can expose the darkness and bring truth and light into our life.
When we understand the memory or the thought, the soul heals because we are freed from unnecessary guilt, anxiety, and shame. Interrogating the whys is to embrace God’s biblical path for your life. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, ask:
1. What is the source? Where did that thought come from? The devil, the flesh, or the world? Yes! Toss it out.
2. Can I defend this thought from the Word of God? No! Toss it out.
3. Is this pride? Is this about me receiving credit? Am I thinking too highly of myself or poorly about someone else? Yes! Toss it out.
4. If I follow this thought will this get me where God wants me to go in life? No! Toss it out.
5. Will this thought build me up or tear me down? Jealousy, greed, anger, and pride will tear you down. Toss it out.
6. Will I reap freedom and joy by allowing this thought through my sieve? No! Toss it out.
7. Is this thought scripturally sound? Is it truth? Go ahead and do it…everybody’s doing it. No! Toss it out.
8. Can I share this thought? No! Toss it out.
9. Does this thought make me feel shamed or condemned? Yes! Toss it out.
10. Does this fit who I am (my character) as the daughter and a follower of Jesus? No! Toss it out.
11. Does this thought bring glory to Jesus? No! Toss it out.
12. Am I buying into the devil’s message through romance novels, soap operas, gossipy conversations, movies, or magazines? Yes! Toss it out.
Reflect: God’s Word says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5:1). Stand firm on your foundation of who God is. Stand firm on who you are in Jesus Christ. Stand firm on your faith on all of God’s promises every day.
Pray: Jesus, thank you for continuing to liberate me. Deliver me today from any yoke of bondage by revealing anything that needs to be broken and restored by you. Help me to recognize and stand strong against my enemies and stand firm in who I am in you. Protect me and help me to repent so I won’t be drawn back into those things which have kept my mind enslaved to the world’s, the devil’s, and my own flesh’s ways.
Many women fear confronting the memories of the past. Why do we need to? To know the why opens the door to seeing the possibility of seeing the seriousness of a problem and the need for more than “Just stop” or “Go away thought.” Often mere behavior modification isn’t the answer. Recognition of the motivation behind the thought or behavior reveals our need to avail ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit so he can expose the darkness and bring truth and light into our life.
When we understand the memory or the thought, the soul heals because we are freed from unnecessary guilt, anxiety, and shame. Interrogating the whys is to embrace God’s biblical path for your life. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, ask:
1. What is the source? Where did that thought come from? The devil, the flesh, or the world? Yes! Toss it out.
2. Can I defend this thought from the Word of God? No! Toss it out.
3. Is this pride? Is this about me receiving credit? Am I thinking too highly of myself or poorly about someone else? Yes! Toss it out.
4. If I follow this thought will this get me where God wants me to go in life? No! Toss it out.
5. Will this thought build me up or tear me down? Jealousy, greed, anger, and pride will tear you down. Toss it out.
6. Will I reap freedom and joy by allowing this thought through my sieve? No! Toss it out.
7. Is this thought scripturally sound? Is it truth? Go ahead and do it…everybody’s doing it. No! Toss it out.
8. Can I share this thought? No! Toss it out.
9. Does this thought make me feel shamed or condemned? Yes! Toss it out.
10. Does this fit who I am (my character) as the daughter and a follower of Jesus? No! Toss it out.
11. Does this thought bring glory to Jesus? No! Toss it out.
12. Am I buying into the devil’s message through romance novels, soap operas, gossipy conversations, movies, or magazines? Yes! Toss it out.
Reflect: God’s Word says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5:1). Stand firm on your foundation of who God is. Stand firm on who you are in Jesus Christ. Stand firm on your faith on all of God’s promises every day.
Pray: Jesus, thank you for continuing to liberate me. Deliver me today from any yoke of bondage by revealing anything that needs to be broken and restored by you. Help me to recognize and stand strong against my enemies and stand firm in who I am in you. Protect me and help me to repent so I won’t be drawn back into those things which have kept my mind enslaved to the world’s, the devil’s, and my own flesh’s ways.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)