We just concluded our Spring Free Indeed session at Mid-Cities.  This is an eight-week class equipping people for healing and freedom followed by an all-day activation of everything taught during the eight weeks. The day includes inner healing, breaking generational curses, disconnecting from toxic and sinful relationships, forgiveness, repentance, as well as deliverance.  

Year after year, as we walk believers through this process, it is always evident that a person’s identity is a primary key to overcoming the enemy and that a shattered identity is an open door for the demonic.  The most broken people and the most demonized men and women are those who feel unworthy of love, who fear rejection and abandonment, and who walk with a crippling sense of shame about who they are. They know what the Bible says about who they are in Christ, but in their hearts, they still see themselves as unworthy, unlovable, and disqualified from God’s blessings and calling.

We also see an amazing amount of transformation occur when a follower of Jesus begins to believe in their heart who God says he or she is instead of who Satan, the accuser of the brethren, says they are.  He begins his work early by wounding children through wounded adults.  Children take on a negative view of themselves through abusive or neglectful parents, a traumatic loss of loved ones, hypercritical people, molesters, rapists, and so forth.  A child inevitably believes bad things happen to them because he or she is defective, bad, or unworthy of a parent’s care and protection.  Later those views can be reinforced through abusive, critical spouses or parents that keep up the rejection and demeaning words.  

Exchanging that negative view with God’s truth about who we are in Christ is critical.  But how do we get there?  I may know what scripture says about me, but actually believing that truth in my heart and making that truth my first thought when the enemy accuses and condemns,  is the goal.  Paul addresses the issue when he says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom. 12:2).  We are transformed when we renew our minds with God’s truth.  Jesus said we will know the  truth and the truth will set us free.

The Holy Spirit, of course, works through the “living and active” Word of God to bear his fruit in our lives and to reform our thinking processes.  But we have a significant part in that process. Brain research over the past few decades has revealed some amazing things about God’s creation.  Thoughts and experiences are actually contained in brain real estate called neural pathways.  These pathways contain memories, emotions, beliefs, and so on sort of like a computer stores memory.  

A computer file can be filled with information, pictures, music, etc. but sits dormant until something in the operating system calls it up and activates it.  Our neural pathways can sit dormant until something happens that is directly or even indirectly  connected to what is stored up and then the neural pathway is accessed.  The memories along with beliefs and feelings attached to those memories, come flooding back.  We call those “reminders” triggers.  Triggers can be words, actions, a tone of voice, sounds, or scenes that have some similarity to the things that initially created the pathway. PTSD episodes for soldiers are a prime example.

Unfortunately, experiences that only vaguely resemble the words and behaviors captured in the neural pathway can also set off a cascade of hurts, resentments, fears, anger, condemnation, shame etc. so that the wounded person almost relives their past hurtful experiences.  Usually, the wounded individual then blames the person who accidentally tapped into that pathway with all the pain stored up there. They assign the same motives to this new person that the perpetrator of the wounds had and relationships are typically damaged. Those revitalized feelings can reinforce the beliefs about ourselves they initially established and Satan then uses that dynamic to great advantage.

The solution is found in weakening the pathway that holds false beliefs and replacing it with a new, stronger pathway containing God’s truth.  We can’t just decide not to think those negative thoughts about ourselves anymore, but must replace them with God’s truth about who we are.  That is where the power of meditation should be employed.  Neural pathways are established through the repetition and/or intensity of experiences, words spoken, etc.

Related to identity, we can intentionally lay in new pathways by meditating on what God says is true about us.  We should read it over and over.  When we read it aloud it adds an extra dimension to the meditation.  When we write it out, that adds one more layer.  When we talk about it with friends, it goes even deeper.  Even writing with colors or attaching music to the words helps to create the new pathway more quickly.  Memorizing the scripture adds another dimension.  

The discipline in renewing the mind is found in consistent, intentional meditation on the Word of God.  When the Holy Spirit joins in the process, he can write a revelation of God’s truth on our hearts.  That is when transformation takes place by the renewing of the mind.  If we have shame, unworthiness, and rejection deeply imbedded in us, it will take more consistency and intentionality on our part to create a stronger pathway.  The psalmist declares, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers” (Ps. 1:1-3). 

After the new pathway is sufficiently laid in and empowered by the Holy Spirit, when something comes up related to our value, worth, or competence our new neural pathway is accessed and we respond as a person who is confident in our worth, our capacities, and God’s love for us.  We no longer feel wounded again or experience the pain of rejection.  Satan labors in this field daily wanting us to believe we are beyond love, beyond God’s forgiveness and disqualified from his blessings and plan for our lives.  We must be diligent to say only what God says about us Satan will reactivate the old, decayed pathway full of his lies. 

If you struggle with your identity, your self-esteem, begin to read God’s word with an eye toward seeing who the Father says you are in Christ.  Find a half dozen scriptures the Holy Spirit highlights for you and meditate on them day and night.  To become who God has called us to be, we must see ourselves as that person.  Set a goal of reading these scriptures out loud, writing them down, talking about them, singing them, etc. every day for ninety days.  You will see transformation take place in your life. Have your children do it with you!

If you are interested in approaches to natural health and healing, you will frequently come across articles on the need to detox the body. The idea is to use certain foods or formulas to remove toxins, heavy metals, etc. from the body. As we log significant years or miles on our bodies, we pick up toxins from the foods we eat, the air we breathe, and from the liquids we drink. Those toxins keep our bodies and our immune systems from working according to design and can eventually lead to serious health issues.

It is possible that mental toxins we pick up from our environment can have even more serious effects. A number of medical research findings suggest that seventy to eighty percent of all physical illnesses are related to stress, worry, and negative thinking. On tip of that, depression, anxiety, and suicidal risks are at all time highs in our culture. These issues are also related to our spiritual health.

The apostle Paul had an antidote for these mental. emotional and spiritual toxins that existed even in his lifetime. He wrote, Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Phil.4:8)

In his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul encourages us to evaluate and choose what we think about, what we ponder, and what we entertain on the big screen of our imagination.  In other words, be intentional about everything…especially your thought life. Everything we think about, focus on, or entertain in our minds leaves an impression on our neural pathways and on our soul. The theological term for intentional or prolonged thinking about an issue, a principle, or an experience is meditation or contemplation. Scripture mentions that mental/spiritual process frequently. That is a rarely used term in American culture. Maybe we relate it to eastern religions and yoga exercises, which are definitely not what I am talking about. It is, however, a very biblical concept. When Christians mediate, they are focused on the word of God and are not just emptying their minds so that any spirit in the neighborhood can enter. Christians invite only the Holy Spirit. 

Speaking of Isaac, the son of Abraham, we are told, “He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching” (Gen.24:63). Isaac had intentionally set time aside in the evening to meditate, to think about things, to mentally process his day and his relationships. After the death of Moses, the Lord spoke to Joshua and commanded him, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Jos.1:8). David prayed, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer” (Ps.19:44; See also Ps.1:2, 48:9, 63:6, 77:12, 119:5, 143:5)

Meditation is a way to intentionally process experiences, expand our understanding of people and events, reinforce positive thoughts, internalize biblical truths, establish God-directed goals, and deepen kingdom values in our heart and mind. For the believer, it is a time set aside to hear the Holy Spirit lead us into truth and shape our life and character. It is also a great way to detox mentally and spiritually, after you have encountered hurtful people and slogged through a sin-soaked culture all day. What you think about most often, what you reflect on frequently, what you consider and process in your mind will rule the day in your heart.

The psalmists mention several things about which they frequently meditated: God’s creation, God’s wonderful and miraculous acts, their personal history with God – his blessings and faithfulness, the Word of God, and God himself. The apostle Paul would add, “whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Phil. 4:8). The verb tense in that passage directs us to think about those things over and over rather than once in a while. Paul also insists that we “take every though captive” and make it obedient to Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 10:5).

He also tells us, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Col.3:1-2). The writer of Hebrews layers on another dimension. “Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess” (Heb.3:1). There may be more, but that is plenty to reflect on. Again, meditation is simply the act of intentionally thinking about, chewing on, reflecting, studying, talking about, praying about, etc. certain things you want to understand and deposit in your heart.

For us it is a dialogue with the Spirit, asking him to give us understanding, insight, revelation, and reinforcement of his truths and values in our life. In scripture, meditation seems to occur most often in the evening or during the “watches of the night.”   I tend to believe that the last things we focus on before falling asleep get the attention of our subconscious which continues to process those things during the night. If it is negative and disturbing news, we will process that. If it is pornography, that will roll around the subconscious in our sleep reinforcing its presence. If it is a scary movie, fear will exert itself in our minds.

However, when we invite the Holy Spirit to be involved in our sleep, we may receive truth and peace we have never recognized before. “For God does speak—now one way, now another— though man may not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men as they slumber in their beds” (Job. 33:14-15). Listening to your audio Bible while you sleep can keep the enemy at bay.

Spending time in the evening reflecting on God, his truth, the goodness of Christ, his Word, etc. is clearly a God-given way to detox spiritually from all the contaminates we have encountered during the day. Satan spends the day trying to pull us away from the truth of God, twisting it, and enticing us to agree with him rather than the Father. Meditation helps to realign our thoughts and feelings with the Lord and in doing so takes away places where the enemy is searching for a foothold. So much around us that we hear, see, and read – even unintentionally – defiles the temple of the Holy Spirit. An evening scrub with meditation will help to keep that temple a place where the Spirit can rest without offense. Let me also say, to meditate, we should take small chunks of scripture to reflect on rather than speed reading ten chapters. Even fifteen minutes with the Lord just before sleep can pay big dividends. 

As I examine the life of Jesus, everything seems so intentional. I suffer from being right-brained. Structure and concrete goals are not my style. Intentionality gives way to random responses to things I encounter during the day. I want to “get in the mood” before doing anything introspective and the mood is elusive. I’m working on consistent meditation. Writing this blog is a form of that, but I want to lay in a godly habit of detoxing at the end of the day and inviting the Spirit to rule over my dreams and even the thoughts churned up by my subconscious. Meditation is one of God’s most powerful divine weapons (2 Cor.10:4) and can make a huge difference as we follow Him. Perhaps, you’ll join me.