LHIM Classes

Romans 12:1-2 The battlefield is in your mind! The fight rages on every day and with the help of God we can be victorious. 1 Peter 5:6-9 To be sober-minded is to maintain a clear, self-controlled, spiritually alert mind rather than allowing anything to cloud our judgment or weaken our awareness. The sober mind is not carried away by emotion, passion, or worldly influences. We must maintain a willingness to change because when we change, the devil adjusts his attacks, and the world changes. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 The fortress is not a physical structure but an entrenched way of thinking—a pattern of reasoning that has become established in the mind and stands against the knowledge of God. There is also a helpful distinction between thought and a fortress. A thought may come and go; a fortress is a pattern of thoughts and beliefs that has become established and defended. The word “speculations” means reasonings. For example: False thought: “I cannot change.”                       God’s truth: God calls me to renew my mind and walk in a new way of life. False thought: “My circumstances determine whether I can have joy.”                       God’s truth: Joy is rooted in God and His promises rather than circumstances. False thought: “I have a right to hold onto this resentment.”                       God’s truth: Scripture calls me to forgive and love. Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword…. 1 Peter 1:23-25 God’s Word is powerful. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 We must stay willing to change. 2 Corinthians 7:8-11 After the Corinthians received Paul’s first letter, 1 Corinthians, they responded with godly sorrow and deliberately changed. 1 Peter 1:13-16 “Prepare your mind for action, be sober.” Romans 12:11-12 “not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer.” Proverbs 6:6–11; 10:4; 12:24, 27; 13:4; 8:9; 9:15; 20:4; 21:25; 24:30–34 Laziness is not merely a lack of activity; it is an unwillingness to exert the necessary effort to fulfill one’s responsibilities and accomplish what is good. Scripture repeatedly contrasts laziness with diligence, discipline, initiative, and faithful work. Hebrews 6:11–20 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence… The opposite of laziness is diligence, faith, patience, and endurance. Hebrews 12:1-3 Look to Jesus, so you do not give up. Ephesians 4:17-32 We do not put off the old self so we can put on the new self. Rather, we put on the new self that will replace the old self. Some have thought – “I will come to church after I stop sinning.” A better way is come to church as a sinner and learn how to live with Christ and you will want to stop sinning and learn how to. Romans 8:23-25 Hope produces endurance. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.  A helmet protects the head, your mind. Colossians 1:9-12 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;  strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. 22-23 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach– if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard…. God help us to renew our minds so that we can glorify You!The post 8. Willingness to Change: Looking at Our Hope first appeared on Living Hope.

1 Timothy 6:5-12 “godliness with contentment is great gain.”  The great deception is someone or something will provide lasting contentment. Contentment says: “I have enough to be thankful.” Covetousness says: “I need more to be satisfied.” Contentment is a state of being satisfied, at peace, and not controlled by an anxious or restless desire for more. Luke 12:16-34; Psalm 16:11; 31:19-20 Godliness and God’s kingdom should be our treasure. The lack of contentment tempts us to sin. Philippians 4:10–13 Paul learned contentment in difficult circumstances. Philippians 1:12-26  Paul wrote Philippians while in prison awaiting the outcome of his appeal to Caesar. His future was uncertain. He did not know whether he would be released or executed. Yet, in this letter, he repeatedly speaks about rejoicing. Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice!” Paul’s joy was not dependent upon his circumstances, rather his relationship with his Father, Lord, and fellow believers. Circumstances do not have to determine the condition of our mind. Philippians 4:11 Contentment can be learned. It did not simply happen to Paul. He developed it through experience and his relationship with Christ. Contentment is a discipline of the mind that can be learned and developed. Philippians 4:12 Paul knew both sides of life: having little, having plenty, hunger, abundance, hardship and imprisonment, rejection, danger and uncertainty. Yet, neither abundance nor hardship controlled his mind. Contentment is not the same as passivity. Philippians 4:13 Paul worked hard. A person can desire improvement while remaining thankful for what he has today. “I can work toward something better without being miserable because I don’t have it yet.” Christ gives us strength not merely to accomplish things, but to remain faithful when circumstances are difficult. Ephesians 5:20; Colossians 3:15-17 Thankfulness helps produce contentment. Psalm 50:14; Hebrews 13:15 Offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Thankfulness changes what the mind focuses upon. Without thankfulness, the mind can become preoccupied with: What is missing What is wrong What others have What we wish were different What we think we deserve Thankfulness redirects the mind toward: What God has provided – Revelation 4:11 What is good – Romans 12:9, 21 The people God has placed in our lives – Psalm 16:3 Opportunities to serve – Galatians 5:13-14 God’s faithfulness – Deuteronomy 32:3-4 The hope we have in Christ – Hebrews 6:18-19 Thankfulness trains the mind to recognize what we have instead of continually focusing on what we lack. Hebrews 13:5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,” Exercise: First thing in the morning before getting out of bed thank God for a new day to live and worship Him. Say the Lord’s prayer and ask God’s help with the activities of the day with gratitude, not negativity. Thank Him for the indoor facilities to prepare for the day. Before each meal thank God for the food and for Christ’s sacrifice. Fix a set time every day to meditate on God’s goodness and thank Him. Thank You for Your grace, mercy, forgiveness, compassion, faithfulness, justice… Make deliberate connections with daily activities when you thank God like bathing, dressing, eating, driving…. Before going to bed, take a few minutes to reflect on your day and write down the specific things you are thankful for. Think of one difficult circumstance in your life. You are not thanking God for the evil or pain itself; instead, ask: “What can I thank God for in the middle of this?” “Where is God in this situation?” Pray – “Lord, teach me to be content.” “Teach me to be thankful when I have little.” Thankfulness is not merely an emotion. It is a discipline that trains the mind to recognize God’s goodness and to encourage contentment.The post 7. Contentment and Gratitude: Learning to Be Satisfied first appeared on Living Hope.

Our identity begins in childhood, greatly influenced by our associations and environment. Children learn by observing others, imitating behavior, receiving feedback, communicating, cooperating, resolving disagreements, experiencing acceptance and rejection, learning boundaries and social expectations.  A similar maturing process takes place with the new birth. SOCIALIZATION HELPS DEVELOP CHRIST-LIKE IDENTITY Who we regularly associate with influences what we think, what we value, how we behave, and ultimately who we become – our identity. Therefore, healthy fellowship requires intentionally choosing relationships that promote godly thinking, spiritual maturity, and constructive behavior. John 13:14-15; 1 Peter 2:20-21; 1 Corinthians 11:1; Philippians 3:17; 4:9 The Scriptures provide instruction in righteousness with written examples for us to emulate. Association with believers provides living examples to observe and follow.  The 12 Apostles not only heard Jesus teach; they watched him live what he taught. They learned from his words and from the example of his life. Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. Psalm 1:1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” Psalm 119:63 I am a companion of all those who fear You, and of those who keep Your precepts. THE CHURCH IS AN INTERDEPENDENT FAMILY Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:1-ff; Ephesians 4:1-6, 5:22-33 The design of the church is so that we need each other – we are interdependent. WHERE WE RECEIVE ENCOURAGEMENT Hebrews 3:13, 10:23-25; Acts 2:42 FELLOWSHIP AFFORDS OPPORTUNITY TO LOVE “Love one another” — John 13:34 “Encourage one another” — 1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Bear one another’s burdens” — Galatians 6:2 “Be kind to one another” — Ephesians 4:32 “Forgive each other” — Colossians 3:13 “Outdo one another in showing honor” — Romans 12:10 “Confess sins to one another and pray for one another” — James 5:16 Galatians 6:1-ff; 2 Timothy 2:24-26 When we are deceived, we often need help to see clearly. The Apostle Paul’s reproof in 1 Corinthians gave the believers the option to see their errors and change. 2 Corinthians 7:8-11. ISOLATION Constant isolation can have significant effects on both the mind and body. Solitude itself is not necessarily harmful. Jesus sometimes withdrew to pray and be alone (Luke 5:16). The concern is persistent isolation that cuts a person off from healthy relationships and meaningful activity. Find a God-centered, loving church if you do not have one. Hebrews 10:24–25 “consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together…” Healthy relationships don’t merely make us feel better; they can stimulate our thinking, faith, love, courage, good works, and joy. Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. GODLY UNITY PRESERVES GOD’S PURPOSES FOR THE AGES Acts 2:41-47 The church flourished when they were united. The initial attack on the first-century church centered on physical persecution, but the devil realized this did not hinder the church, rather motivated them to speak with more determination and boldness. The book of Acts and the Church Epistles reveals that the devil effectively impacted the church by causing division and infighting in the church. He turned the believers against each other. Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 We have a mission!The post 6. Family Influence: How Relationships Shape Our Thinking first appeared on Living Hope.

Download: Renewed Mind Class Notes 1 Peter 5:5-11; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Romans 12:2 The battlefield is in the mind. The devil has established schemes designed to weaken, deceive, and control our thinking (Ephesians 6:11). Therefore, we must intentionally exercise and strengthen our minds so that we can think clearly, discern truth from error, resist the devil’s traps, and live in a manner that reflects Christ. Just as the body becomes weak and eventually atrophies when it is not exercised, the mind can also become weak when it is not challenged, disciplined, and properly nourished. A strong, disciplined mind does not happen by accident; it must be developed through intentional exercise. Positive Disciplines: SCRIPTURE READING – 1 Timothy 4:1-7 Daily reading of the Scriptures is imperative. There is a supernatural component to the word of God. Hebrews 4:12 It is living and active. A common myth about habit is that it becomes automatic in just 21 days. A well-known study by Phillippa Lally and colleagues found that, on average, participants took about 66 days for a new behavior to reach a substantial level of automaticity. The range was very wide, 18 to 254 days, depending on the person and the behavior. The truth is that a habit is developed through repeated practice, not simply the passage of time. PRAYER – The ultimate act of God dependency is daily prayer. The Lord’s prayer is a guideline on what to pray for. Prayer can greatly help develop the mind and assist with reading. Psalm 119:33-41 PHYSICAL EXERCISE – 1 Timothy 4:8 Physical exercise can have a significant effect on the mind, not just the body. It is one of the practical ways a person can support attention, memory, mood, and overall brain health. Exercise increases blood flow to the brain. When you exercise, your heart pumps more blood, delivering oxygen and nutrients to the brain. Regular aerobic exercise can support the brain’s ability to function and adapt. It supports memory and learning. Exercise stimulates processes involved in neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form and strengthen connections. This is particularly associated with the hippocampus, an area important for learning and memory. It improves attention and mental sharpness. Regular physical activity can improve executive functions such as attention, planning, self-control, and the ability to shift appropriately between tasks. 4. It helps regulate emotions. Exercise can reduce stress and help regulate anxiety and mood. Part of this comes from changes in brain chemistry and part from the way physical activity affects the body’s stress-response systems. It helps you sleep. Regular exercise can improve sleep quality, and good sleep is essential for memory, emotional regulation, and mental performance. Protects the brain as we age. Maintaining physical activity throughout life is associated with better cognitive health and a lower risk of cognitive decline. MEMORIZATION OF SCRIPTURE – is an exercise that strengthens the mind with attention, recall, and equips us to rightly respond to temptations like Jesus did in Matthew 4. Again, it releases the power of God’s supernatural word into our lives. It provides godly thoughts. READING – Reading builds focus, expands vocabulary, and strengthens comprehension; especially when it’s slow, reflective reading instead of skimming. In the context of faith, reading Scripture meditatively is especially forming; because it shapes both the mind and the heart towards wisdom and stability. PROPER SLEEP – Sleep is when your brain does maintenance work, consolidating memory and clearing waste products, and helping regulate emotions. Without enough of it, focus, judgment, and even mood suffer. Good sleep is one of the most important things a person can do to keep the mind clear, emotionally stable, and capable of learning and remembering. Here are some of the most effective practices: Keep a consistent schedule. Go to bed and get up at approximately the same time every day, including weekends. Your brain responds well to a regular rhythm. Get morning sunlight. Exposure to natural light soon after waking helps regulate your circadian rhythm and makes it easier to become sleepy at night. Exercise regularly. Physical activity supports healthy sleep, although vigorous exercise immediately before bed can make some more alert. Reduce evening screen exposure. Phones, social media, television, and other stimulating activities can keep the brain engaged when it should be winding down. More importantly, scrolling can make it difficult to transition into a restful mental state. Avoid caffeine late in the day. Caffeine can remain in the body for many hours, so afternoon and evening consumption can interfere with sleep even when you don’t feel particularly stimulated. Don’t use alcohol as a sleep aid. Alcohol may make you fall asleep faster, but it can disrupt sleep later in the night and reduce sleep quality. Create a period of quiet before bed. Give your mind 30–60 minutes to slow down. Reading, quiet prayer, Scripture meditation, or gentle stretching can be helpful. Don’t take your problems to bed. A useful practice is to write down things you’re concerned about and what you need to do tomorrow. That gives your mind permission to stop trying to solve everything during the night. Make your bedroom conducive to sleep. Keep it dark, quiet, and comfortably cool. Develop a calming spiritual routine. Psalm 4:8 – “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Yahweh, make me dwell in safety.” STIMULATING ACTIVITY – Surround yourself with God-centered people who encourage you to think biblically and pursue godly wisdom. Avoid relationships and activities that dull the mind and promote apathy. Choose activities that challenge you to think, learn, create, and engage meaningfully rather than passively consuming entertainment that can lead to mindless, unproductive thinking. We must be intentional about protecting our minds from the constant stream of distractions and making time to think, meditate, and listen to God. Negative Mind Influences: DRINKING ALCOHOL – Can dull judgment and attention in the short term. It also messes with memory and decision-making, and over time heavy use can shrink brain volume, slow processing, worsen mood, and raise anxiety.  Long term misuse is linked with depression, sleep disruption, and trouble with concentration and motivation. MARIJUANA – Impairs memory and attention, slows processing speed, affects motivation, and, in heavy or high potency use, raises the risk of anxiety, panic, or paranoia, especially in adolescents whose brains are still maturing. The use of it is in direct contradiction of God’s clear command to live sober-minded.  Psychedelics like mushrooms, LSD, and mescaline can have profound effects on perception, emotion, and thinking. They aren’t simply “mind-opening” substances; they can also disrupt normal brain function and psychological stability. SCREEN TIME – Too much screen time can fragment attention and make deep focus harder, especially with rapid switching between apps and nonstop notifications. It can also disturb sleep and crowd out quiet reflection. Not all screen use is bad, but setting limits and picking intentional times makes a real difference. AI – Can weaken the mind because it does the thinking for you.The post 5. Discipline and Mental Strength: Training Body and Mind first appeared on Living Hope.

Download: Renewed Mind Class Notes Psalm 31:1-7; 16:7-11 David endured enormous difficulty with enemies, betrayal, fear, guilt, loss, and danger, yet his writing repeatedly returned to joy. Acts 16:24-25; Philippians 2:17-18, 4:4 Paul’s suffering did not diminish his joy. Hebrews 12:2 [Jesus] for the joy set before him endured. How did they endure? – The joy of Yahweh was their strength. (Nehemiah 8:10) From a neurological perspective, joy is more than simply feeling good. It is a positive emotional state of mind generated by the brain when neural circuits involved in reward, attachment, and well-being become activated, producing feelings of delight, contentment, gratitude, or deep satisfaction. Simply stated: JOY. Joy not only affects our state of mind, but also the autonomic nervous system by: lowering stress hormones such as cortisol, reducing heart rate and blood pressure, improving immune function, and increasing rest and digestive activity. Not to be confused with pleasure or happiness, joy is a deeper, often relational or meaningful positive emotional state that can coexist even with hardship. “God designed our brains to run on joy like a car runs on fuel. Our brains desire joy more than any other thing.” James Wilder, author of The Life Model: Living from the Heart Jesus Gave You and The Other Half of Church. Joy is received when we see the sparkle in someone’s eye that conveys “I love you and I am happy to be with you.” It is first initiated when a mother holds her baby in her arms in the early months of life, communicating connectedness, safety, belonging, value, acceptance, and most of all, love. The mother’s loving embrace and glance build the joy center in the child’s brain. It can continue to grow from family members and friends. However, far too many people are deprived of this development because of improper parenting, or sickness, or crises due to war, or poverty, etc. Parents are encouraged to hold their babies that are in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). A premature or sick newborn’s nervous system is still developing. Gentle, close contact with a parent can provide important sensory and emotional regulation. Research has found that skin-to-skin contact can help: Stabilize heart rate and breathing Improve oxygen saturation Help regulate body temperature Reduce stress and crying Support more stable sleep Promote breastfeeding and feeding development Support weight gain and growth Strengthen parent-infant bonding There is also an important neurological aspect. A baby’s developing brain is constantly receiving information from the environment. The parent’s warmth, heartbeat, voice, smell, touch, and breathing provide organized, reassuring sensory input. The baby’s brain is learning, I am safe, I belong, I am valuable, I am loved, all of which builds joy. This is particularly significant for a premature infant because the NICU environment can involve bright lights, alarms, medical procedures, handling, and separation from the mother. Appropriate skin-to-skin contact provides a very different kind of sensory experience: warmth, containment, human touch, and familiar biological rhythms. Long before a child can understand words, the brain receives information through touch, facial expression, voice, warmth, and physical presence. Many people struggle with sadness and depression because their joy center was never properly developed, or the challenges of life have gradually drained their joy. Without a healthy capacity for joy, navigating life’s difficulties can become overwhelming, leading some people to seek escape rather than develop healthy ways of coping. As Christians, we have two very powerful effective ways to build our joy center – our relationship with our Father and with His family, Jesus and the believers. Joy comes from the face of God and people who love you. We all need FACE TIME! Numbers 6:24-26 Yahweh bless you and keep you; Yahweh make His face [panim] shine on you and be gracious to you; Yahweh lift up His countenance [panim] on you and give you peace. Psalm 16:11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence [panim] is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. The Hebrew word “panim” translated literally is “face” and, when it is translated figuratively, “presence.” Biblically, joy isn’t merely the brain responding to pleasant circumstances. Joy is deeply connected to relationship—knowing God, being aware of His presence, and delighting in Him. Psalm 89:14-16 They know the joyful sound because they walk in light of His face: “countenance” is paneh – “face.” Psalm 31:16, 19-20 You hide them in the secret place of Your presence. Psalm 67:1 cause His face to shine upon us. Psalm 80:3, 7, 19 When Yahweh shines His face upon us we experience joy. What does God’s face look like to you? Is it guilt, shame, disappointment, or disgust? What is your self-talk? Do you bask in His light? Do you know His unfailing love for you? Do you see a god of vengeance or a Father who looks on you like a nursing mother? Zephaniah 3:17 Yahweh your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult [rejoice] over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy. Psalm 149:4 For Yahweh takes pleasure in His people; Jeremiah 31:3 Yahweh appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have drawn you with lovingkindness. Micah 7:18 He delights in unchanging love. Romans 8:29-39 Who do you stay your mind on – yourself or your Father? 1 John 3:1-2 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.  Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. David, Paul, and Jesus gave God space and time to allow God to nurture them by reading and thinking the Scriptures, meditation, and self-talk focused on God and Jesus and not self. God is in Christ and Christ is in you. They are always with you. Psalm 139:6-12; 5:11-12 The word “refuge” occurs 46 times in Psalms.  The refuge isn’t merely a physical place where God hides someone from trouble. God Himself is the refuge. The second way Christians receive joy is the sparkle in the eye of fellow believers that conveys “I love you and I am happy to be with you.” God’s face shines through the face of loving engaged believers. We need each other and we need fellowship with people who are joyful to be with us. 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 Joy is experienced in a relationship when someone’s face lights up when they look upon you with love. Acts 2:41-47 Face time at church, prayer partner, mentor, socialize. Galatians 5:13-14, 22 The fruit of the spirit has a progression. LOVE → JOY → PEACE → PATIENCE EXERCISE: Gratitude increases your capacity for joy. Try this joy-building exercise: Think of a memory that makes you feel grateful and connect with God in that memory. Give the memory a short title. What do you think God might have been wanting to impress on you by the memory? Start a list of grateful memories with the goal of having ten. Use this list to go into five minutes of nonverbal gratitude every day. The post 4. The Joy-Centered Mind: Choosing Joy in Every Circumstance first appeared on Living Hope.