Reclaim Your Thoughts and Transform Your Life
Knowing How the Mind Works Puts You in the Driver’s Seat
Who knows how the mind works?
Apparently, the Mind is made up of your brain, spine, heart, and stomach. What a mystery God has made!
However, one framework that makes sense to me is the computer framework.
I have a programmed computer for a mind.
Programmed by:
My history (parents, schools, culture)
The World
What I’ve seen, read, watched
Mistakes/poor choices
Good choices
Failure to make choices
Actions I’ve taken
Satan
All this programming causes my responses. I believe in free will, but I understand why some people don’t.
I believe in it because I can sit here and evaluate all this programming, comparing it to what I know to be absolute truth.
That is the concrete facts of reality (of which I am one).
And I can decide to reprogram myself.
Yes, I can undo all the programming I don’t like and reprogram my subconscious according to what God says is true.
Don’t you experience yourself responding in ways you don’t think are right? Don’t your feelings betray all that programming? Your triggers tell you what your body thinks.
I love the word, algorithm.
a process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations, especially by a computer. - Oxford
An algorithm is a system. I’m no computer programmer, but it looks to me like there are commands: if they do this, then that will happen. If they do this, then that will happen. And if they do this, then that will happen.
The outcomes will change if I program myself according to God’s programming language — biblical and logical truth.
You may have been programmed poorly: If they say this, then she is an awful person and will be abandoned, but if they say this, then she deserves to live on this planet.
Maybe you were programmed this way: If you win, you are good, but if you lose, you are fundamentally bad.
Or: If they see the real you, they will reject you.
Or: If no one hits on you tonight, you are ugly.
Or: If you don’t do what you have to do to be accepted, you are unlovable.
Or: If your kids misbehave, you are an awful parent, which means you are a loser.
Or: If you step on stage to give a speech, you will drop dead.
Lies, lies, and more lies. The evil one has been secretly programming you your whole life. It is time to give the job back to God.
What does God say? I’d be honored if you’d use the comments to give us some ideas for better programming our new algorithm, which is our Christian worldview.
This is the worldview where we have been lovingly, fearfully, and wonderfully made by a good, good Father in heaven, who even sent His Son to repurchase us from death, hell, and poor programming to give us a new life.
You have new life in Him if you believe. (If you haven’t received that yet, why not do it now?)
But now you must allow Him to reprogram according to this new algorithm. It may take time, but it’ll take less time if you are intentional.
There will always be a few bugs thanks to the pesky sinful nature, but then, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, that last trumpet will sound, and…we shall be changed!
Father God, Jesus and HS keep it pretty simply when it come to programming…
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart , mind and soul and love your neighbor as yourself.”. But like you explained then there is the World and evil. Total Authenticity before God and a few close people keep me as balanced… as I can be. FORGIVENESS is the whole point of JESUS on the cross and that is the GLUE that keeps me loving our Trinity God, Son and HS…my neighbor and myself. I find it easier to forgive others than myself. Coming authentically before God with my sins, challenges and strengths keeps me sane and balanced.
Good article! Thanks for sharing this! It was a good reminder that we are in control of our thoughts and that we must test our thinking! 2 Corinthians 10:5 calls us to take every thought captive to obey Christ.
I think Romans 12:1-2 helps me with reprogramming my mind. Reminding me that I must transform my mind (verse 2) so I’m not conformed to the world’s way of thinking. But Romans 12:1 also helps me remember who I have been called to be, a living sacrifice! This is the call and when we remind ourselves of this identity, we help ourselves focus on Christ! Essentially reprogramming ourselves.
The challenge is described in this quote I found, going through some old notes. “The problem with living sacrifices is they try to crawl away from the alter!” To often we try to escape being a living sacrifice.