Episode 53 - Preaching to Yourself

As we work toward becoming resilient, we need to turn our attention to our thought life. Resilience begins and ends in our minds.  We will grow in resilience as we are able to take our thoughts captive and allow the Holy Spirit to renew our minds. Join Brooklyn and Karen as they discuss some practical ways we begin to learn how to preach to ourselves.

As always, we encourage you to go deeper into this discussion with a friend or small group.  Here are some questions to facilitate that discussion:

1. What are some of the mantras you hear touted by society? (Be true to yourself. You can be anything you want to be. It's all about me. Etc.)
2. Are you aware of your thoughts, or do they just kinda run without a filter? When you do notice your thoughts, are they mainly positive or negative?
3. What is a frequent thought you have about yourself? (for example: I can't do this.  I'm not good enough.) Share that thought with the group.  Put it through the filter of Philippians 4:8. Is it true? Is it noble? Is it right? Is it pure? Is it lovely? Is it admirable? Is it excellent? Is it praiseworthy?
4. What is influencing your thoughts? Who? What podcasts? What shows? What music? Are those influences helping you focus on God and live as a holy and pleasing sacrifice? How do those influences show up in your thoughts?
5. Read Philippians 4:6-7. Are you a grateful person? How does gratitude counter anxiety?
6. Read Romans 12:1-2. When we are talking about our thought patterns, what does it look like to conform to the pattern of the world?  What does it look like to be transformed by the renewing of our minds?
7. How does our thought life affect resilience?
8. What is one step you will take this week to preach to yourself?