It’s been a while since I’ve written about daily affirmations or Scripture affirmations–and thanks be to God, now I’m revisiting them as a Certifed Christian Life Coach. I’ve shared in the past some verses I used when I was struggling with my mind; when my mind was in a constant war with fear, anxiety, and scary thoughts. Part of this struggle was a spiritual attack, “For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places.” +Ephesians 6:12
Another part of my struggle was the formation of bad thinking habits. I thought about whatever popped into my mind! And then, I let my mind wander all over the place; I was a slave to my thoughts. When I started the discipline of daily affirmations, one of my affirmations was pulled straight from the Scriptures–“I take every thought captive.” This affirmation was based on the scripture found in 2 Corinthians 10:5.
When I realized part of my problem was “simply” a bad habit of some bad thinking, I knew there was hope–If I could format bad habit, surely I could form a good habit. But, I knew I couldn’t just “stop thinking bad things;” I had to fill that thinking void–taking something out meant I had to replace it with something else.
I had heard the scripture about having the mind of Christ. I knew that the Word of God was true and if it said I had the mind of Christ…I had the mind of Christ. Now, I needed to know exactly what that meant; how does the mind of Christ think?! Back to the Scriptures to ask, “What does the Bible say about my thoughts?”
What Does the Bible Say About Our Thoughts?
I have revisited this question often and will continue to visit and write about the Scriptures and our thoughts. Especially now as a Certified Christian Life Coach specializing in using the wisdom of ancient Scripture with the latest in neuroscience and advanced thought work.
*Here’s another post about thoughts in the Bible, “Bible Quotes: Our Thoughts in the Bible” and I’ve included a free printable listing scripture verses about our thoughts.
I mentioned one of the daily affirmations I repeated to myself was, “I can take every thought captive.” I specifically included the word “can” to remind myself I had a choice. I could decide what I wanted to think about and what I didn’t want to think about. The thoughts that popped into my mind that I didn’t want to think about, I could restrict them, capture them, replace them, and confine them…take them captive like the scripture said!
Using a tool we learned in Life Coaching Certification, the Creation Cycle, is such a powerful way to learn how to recognize thoughts, see how they generate feelings that drive our actions!
Reading through and meditating with those verses on my thoughts, made me realize what I didn’t want to do or think about. But as I mentioned above, I couldn’t take something out, leaving a void–I had to fill in what I didn’t want to do with what I wanted to do.
If I didn’t want to think whatever/whenever I had to choose what I did want, so I decided, “I want to be a joy thinker!” With the help of the Scriptures and one of my favorite books, The 4:8 Principle, I learned and continue to learn how to choose what I wanted to think about!
Life Coaching and Advanced Thought Work
My clients come to Life Coaching because they realize something in their life needs to change. In Life Coaching, I help them realize what needs to change is their thoughts; their pain is always, always, always coming from their thoughts!
As my clients learn to start thinking about what they’re thinking about, my job is to hold sacred, courageous space for them from a place of unconditional love. I believe in the best for them as they start to sort their thoughts, tune in to their feelings, and make massive changes in their life!
Have you ever heard of the “Observer Effect”? It states that something changes as it is observed with loving intention. My very presence as your Life Coach, believing the best about you, as your truest, highest self that God created you to be, changes you for the better! (Click the banner below to sign up for your free 30-minute encounter call to see how Life Coaching will change your life.)
*updated from the archives
It took me more than one reading, but now I understand about positive affirmations! Funny how one day I don’t get something and another day the light bulb goes off!!! Will be checking out these daily affirmations and writing them down! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you both for your suggestions. My husband’s family (who are evangelicals, although Greg is Catholic) would say things like “I bind you spirit of ________ and command you in Jesus’ name….” I don’t feel comfortable doing that because in the prayer of St. Michael, we say “May God rebuke…” I always understood that the power to rebuke spirits was given to the apostles/bishops/priests under the auspices of the Church…not me. But your “formula” prayer of “sending … to the foot of the cross to be judged by the Lord” and also “I renounce the lie…. or thought…” that comes into my head is very helpful. Sending ________ to the foot of the cross to be judged by the Lord acknowledges God’s power to protect me. And renouncing lies or bad thoughts about myself reminds me to release it and replace it with what God thinks about me. Thank you very much… I think I will try using them.
This is so important. This knowledge of the power of God in his word. And the power to “take our thoughts captive” that we have been given in baptism.
I have been listening to some of the replays since I don’t have the capability for Periscope. 🙁 2 Timothy 1:7 happened to be highlighted in my wedding bible. What struck me was that if we have not been given a spirit of cowardice, then when we feel these feelings or have these thoughts, they are opposing spirits. Spirits that we’ve invited into our hearts and minds for one reason or another.
You’ve taught us that we can retrain our thought patterns and reclaim our identity with the truth. Thank you for that. And also I was recently taught to renounce any spirits that do not represent God. Here is what I do and preferably out loud privately, unless I’m helping my children to renounce any lies that I think they are accepting.
I renounce whatever lie or spirit as soon as it enters in or has taken up residence. “In Jesus’ name, I renounce the lie that I am ugly.” or “In Jesus’ name, I renounce the spirit of envy.” Through the power of God, I can also command, in his name, any spirit of ______ to leave NOW.
God bless you and know that I am listening even though I cannot interact.
In Jesus’ name
I have used something similar Michelle. I pray, “In the name of Jesus, I bind you spirit of ________ and send you to the foot of the cross to be judged by our Lord.” I heard this formula from a homily titled “Spiritual Flyswatters.”