Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Thoughts and Feelings

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he… (Proverbs 23:7).

I have a book in my library entitled Who Switched Off My Brain by Dr. Caroline Leaf. Dr. Leaf has a background in research on the brain and how it functions and gives some intriguing insight into the biochemical processes produced by thoughts.

I’ve preached for years that we must control our beliefs, our thoughts, and our words carefully. We become what we really believe and think about ourselves. Our words spoken with conviction eventually produce their substance in our lives!
In her research, Dr. Leaf discovered that thoughts are basically electrical and biochemical in nature, and that thought produce a biochemical response that is carried from the brain via the bloodstream to the cells of our bodies, enabling us to actually feel what we think.

She mentions two major foundations for thought, faith and fear. Fear based thinking (worry, doubt, unforgiveness, bitterness, resentment, anger) produces a negative biochemical response that affects us in a negative way emotionally and physically. Faith based thinking (faith, love, joy, trust, confidence, hope,) produces a positive biochemical response that will affect us positively emotionally and mentally.

Proverbs 14:30 (Amplified) reads: A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones. And Proverbs 4:23 (New Century Version) reveals: Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life. You just can’t compartmentalize and separate you mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual life. They all go together and directly affect each other.

Proverbs 3: 5-8 (NIV) also gives insight into what our trust in God will do for us physically: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

Cleanse yourself today of the toxic thoughts and words of doubt, fear, worry, unforgiveness, bitterness, pessimism, and self-centeredness. Make a conscious decision to think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). It will affect you mentally, emotionally, physically, as well as spiritually.

True scientific research will always and only confirm what God has already revealed! Forever, O Lord, your Word is settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89).

1 comment:

  1. Hey Pastor Mitch,

    Been out of town and catching up on reading.

    Responding to the September 24th blog 'A Fresh Move of the Holy Spirit'.
    You mentioned calling a corporate fast in a couple of weeks....
    GO FOR IT, we need it as 'The Church, the body' as a nation and our church should be hungry for it!

    I'm sure it's going to be sad when we see the number who get involved in this fast. I look around at 'The Church', (I say 'The Church' as a whole) it's like we are sleeping, in another world. If we are not careful, the ones of us NOT sleeping will find ourselves in bed snoring like the rest of 'The Church, the body'.

    It's not a time to rest in the Lord, but be bold, pray, fast, read and call out to Him for direction, our children, our families, our nation, Israel, and the churches we attend.
    Amen??!!
    We need to make sure that we CHECK ourselves daily, I include myself in that check. No one should want to be found sleeping in this time, this season we are living in.

    God bless you and Susan, and thank you


    Linda

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