philippians 4:8 – when it hurts

“Doing something over and over again doesn’t just make it easier. It actually changes the brain.” – Learning Rewires the Brain; Science News for Students”

Research says our brain has the ability to change over the course of our lives; that learning can rewire our brain.

If learning can rewire our brain in terms of mastering a new skill, can I learn to think in a new way which will benefit me? Make me less anxious or fearful? Lonely or insecure? Angry or bitter?

If we think in one way for a very long time, does that create paths of a particular mindset?

Perhaps that is why the Bible tells us how we should be thinking.

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.

It matters how we think.

Practicing can make perfect wrong thinking, too.

When the Bible tells us to give thanks in all things, it doesn’t mean we quip rote words. God wants us to grasp the deeper meaning here because he knows how easy it is to lick our wounds for too long and what it will do to us.

When I have a splinter in my finger, I don’t feel like having it removed because it hurts. I have to decide it has to come out.

Following God’s guidance is just that. A decision. It is not necessarily going to feel right.

After our initial shock, reaction, confusing, anger .. pain, we will have to decide.

Will I continue to leave that splinter in my finger?

Or will I remove it?

How we feel is important to God. But he was upfront with us. He told us we would have trouble in this world but to take heart because he will have the last say.

We keep this in our sight. The Creator of the universe has a plan and a solution.

Practicing the words of this promise makes perfect thinking.

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Photo credit: Kryziz Bonny via Remodel Blog / CC BY

God gave us emotions. Sadness is an emotion that God has, too.

I know people who are over-the-top positive or optimistic to the point of being unrealistic. Call it faith, positive thinking, or luck – but this kind of thinking is just as bad as people who live in sadness, discouragement, and self-pity.

With God’s help, our emotions can be controlled.

God knows sadness is a part of our life. Otherwise he wouldn’t tell us not to replay the video of difficult situations in our minds over and over and over again. He tells us to find something good to let our mind dwell upon.

… 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.

This isn’t magic.

It isn’t avoiding reality.

It’s accepting that God knows how he made us and what works.