Escape Your Rut - Part Two

Escape Your Rut - Part Two Pastor Noelle Huether Today is the second session of Escape Your Rut. We will begin to identify the ruts in our lives. Once we can identify ruts in our lives, we will be able to begin to actualize God's promises and His unique design for each of our lives, not just for one moment, or one day, but for the rest of our lives. First, I want to introduce to you Dr. Caroline Leaf, a Christian and neuroscientist. Since 1985, Caroline has worked in the area of cognitive neuroscience specializing in traumatic brain injury and learning disabilities. Her research goes all the way back to the 1990’s when neuroplasticity was just beginning to be understood. Neuroplasticity is how the mind, your thoughts, and your activities, change the brain in real and observable ways. Dr. Leaf has dedicated her life understanding how the brain works and to linking science to Scripture. I give credit to Dr. Leaf for much of what I will be sharing and encourage you to visit her site at www.DrLeaf.com. WHAT IS A RUT? A rut is how one THINKS, FEELS and CHOOSES in a specific situation, event or trigger on a consistent basis. It is your default response and difficult to get out, try another way, or even see other options. Ruts are the negative thought patterns we have developed through the years. AND, this is important, our thought patterns are continually being developed every moment of our lives. What is Your RESPONSE: - when someone is angry at you? - when someone pulls out in front of you on the road? - when you are treated unfairly or unjustly? - when a loved one or an innocent person is treated unfairly or unjustly? - when you are caught sinning? - when you are not getting your own way? - when you fail at something? - when you make a mistake? - when you perceive an offense? - when you are stressed? What causes these responses? Why do we respond in the way we do? Can we change our default responses? Is it possible to change the way we think? What about the emotions that rise up and seem to take over? Can we change our default emotions? Paul tells us: Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 Your MIND is believed to be the connection between your SPIRITUAL BODY and your PHYSICAL BODY. It is where you are constantly thinking and choosing. Every thought is redesigning your physical brain, creating neurons, pathways, turning genes off or on as your cells are reproducing, changing the neurochemicals in your brain. This is called neuroplasticity. Your thinking changes not only the landscape of your brain but also how your brain works. For Good, and for Bad. In order to identify our ruts, we need to identify our toxic negative thinking. A rut is how one THINKS, FEELS and CHOOSES in a specific situation, event or trigger on a consistent basis. It is your default response. IDENTIFY TOXIC THINKING Toxic / Negative Thoughts: Toxic and negative thoughts can be the result of trauma or abuse in the past that have not been dealt with, coping mechanisms we have utilized, sins, lies we believe, or even just day to day ways of thinking that keep us from experiencing the fullness of life that God has for us. Fear Frustration Anger Anxiety Chaotic Thoughts Lies We Believe I'm not smart enough It's too hard for me I can't do it I'm worthless Victim Mentality Sinful desires and imaginations And the like Remember from previous sermon, we have been shown, through science, that we are wired for love. We do not have the capabilities in our minds or our bodies to handle fear, hate, anger or any other negative emotion. EFFECTS OF TOXIC THINKING: What is interesting is what these TOXIC thoughts, emotions and choices cause: Brain damage - Toxic thoughts emotions and choices literally create Neurochemical and Electomagnetic Chaos within your brain. These thoughts destroy your brain causing measurable shrinkage and other detrimental changes. Negatively affects our DNA “Anger, fear and frustration causes the DNA to change shape. DNA tightens up, becomes short and shuts off DNA codes which causes reduced quality of DNA expression (creation of functional products needed by the body, such as proteins) which causes the mind and body to shut down” (Study: Local and Nonlocal Effects of Coherent Heart Frequencies on Conformational Changes of DNA) Summation of that study is a healthy thought creates healthy DNA expression, or creation of healthy proteins your body needs to stay healthy. Negative or toxic thoughts create proteins that look different and act differently thereby creating disease and mental illness. Volatile emotions Unforgiveness, bitterness Easily angered, irritated, offended Unable to cope in day to day life Stage 2-4 Stress on your body Depression Fogginess, confusion and negative attitude Receive correction and rebuke as condemnation We become filled with fear and anxiety which distorts our perceptions Short attention span Opens us up to spiritual warfare and oppression from the enemy. We will delve deeper into that later. Your MIND controls your BRAIN which controls EVERY aspect of your body to the cellular level. Scientists have recently have shown that these negative thoughts cause 75-98% of all mental, physical, and behavioral illnesses. TOXIC THOUGHT EXAMPLE: Let's take a look at what this might look like: You make a mistake -> You become angry at yourself -> Thoughts of negativity of self continues as a vicious cycle -> Brain Damage - DNA Expression Damage/Illness - Damaging Behaviors/Habits You make a mistake -> Your family member gets angry at you and attacks you verbally -> You become angry at your family member -> Thoughts of negativity towards family member continues as a vicious cycle -> Brain Damage - DNA Expression Damage/Illness - Damaging Behaviors/Habits Let's go back to Scripture: "Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,  idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5:19-21 Are you noticing how many sins Paul lists here are committed in the mind? We will not be able to experience God's Promises in our lives if we are thinking negative and toxic thoughts. Our bodies, minds and spirits cannot handle these negative thoughts and attitudes. God is always with us, that is His promise. In order to experience Him though, that is our decision. GOD'S ANSWER Now I want to share with you Good News, hope. Not only does Jesus offer us salvation to rescue us, empowers us with His Holy Spirit, but also has wired our brains to be renewed. Remember the study I mention earlier? “Anger, fear and frustration causes the DNA to change shape. DNA tightens up, becomes short and shuts off DNA codes which causes reduced quality of DNA expression (creation of functional products needed by the body, such as proteins) which causes the mind and body to shut down” (Study: Local and Nonlocal Effects of Coherent Heart Frequencies on Conformational Changes of DNA) The study also found: Love, joy, appreciation and thankfulness REVERSED the poor quality of DNA Codes and Negative Shutdown! Ephesians 4:22-24 "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;  to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Jesus is our hope in every way, including escaping our rut! APPLICATION I believe the way out of the rut in our lives and know God's victory in our daily lives is through our thinking. "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2 Last week we worked on Step 1 of Dr. Carolyn Leaf's program for Switching On Your Brain. We started to identify our thoughts, feelings and what we were sensing at a given moment. Step 2 is to take about 1 minute of Focused Reflection to find the one negative thought that is dominating you the most. Identify the one thought that seems to be blocking you the most. It may not necessarily be a sin, but it is keeping you from experiencing joy in your day. Step 3 is to write down for 1-2 minutes max everything that comes to mind about that one negative thought. We will discuss Step 4 and 5 in the next weeks.