Jul
19
2010
Focus, Triggers and Sports Psychology
Sports psychologist will tell you that an important aspect of any game is the ability of the athlete to focus. Keeping one’s mind concentrated on the task at hand is key to performing anything at a high level.
The 2010 British Open winner, Louis Oosthuizen, employed a trigger technique to do just that. In the past, Oosthuizen would become very temperamental on the course and regularly lose his focus. His mind would get off track and his swing would be affected. Consequently, his scores did not put him at the top of the leader boards. In fact, in two previous PGA tour events, he did not do well enough to make the cut and play over the weekend.
Oosthuizen and his Mind Coach came up with a solution to his focus problem. He put a large red dot in a very visible spot on his golf glove. Each time he gripped his club, he’d see the red dot as a trigger and to remember to focus… to clear his mind of any distraction so that his mind was completely in the game. He believes it made a difference in how he performed during the British Open. I imagine he will continue to use this technique as a visual reminder, or trigger, to help him focus for the foreseeable future. Serious golfers and sports-minded people may enjoy reading more about Oosthuizen’s Mind Coach, Karl Morris, and this trigger technique.
Focus and The Christian Faith
I spent some time the last 24 hours reflecting on how this focus issue might be addressed for those who are trying to live out the principles of the Christian faith and might be stumbling, especially in their thinking patterns. My mind kept going to two scriptures.
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2
“Finally, brothers, 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. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.“ Philippians 4:8
To understand what God wants us to be doing, we have to have a mindset based on his guiding principles. Paul tells us in Romans that it’s necessary to renew our minds by knowing what God’s truths are and we do that by reading the Bible. We must replace what society, or the world, tells us with the principles of God. He inspired the authors of the Bible to share his truths with us by the written Word. (2 Timothy 3:16)
Then in Philippians, Paul instructs us what to think on specifically… the kind of thoughts that should be in our minds. The more our thoughts are of those that Paul suggests, the more likely we will have peace and live a victorious life.
Focus and Your Red Dot
So what behaviors or “triggers” can we employ on a daily basis to remind us to practice these principles? I’ll share a few of the things I do that help me. I generally listen to Christian music instead of secular music. Most every morning I start my day with a devotional and read some of the Bible. I pray asking God to help me think about things that will please him and that are praiseworthy. I read books about the application of the Christian faith. Most days of the week I seek out scriptures that are conducive to personalizing in the form of daily positive affirmations. (Read a blog post about the value of speaking affirmations using scripture.)
It’s been my experience that the more I am intentional about monitoring my thinking patterns, and therefore think as Paul recommended to the Philippians, I’m better able to be the kind of man God desires me to be. The fruits of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control - are more apparent in my life.
So, I don’t use a visual type of red dot to help me focus on my walk with God. My main technique is monitoring my thinking pattern and by daily doing things that help me be reminded of the key principles of the Christian faith.
What’s your equivalent of Oosthuizen’s red dot that helps you stay focused on your walk with God?
May
18
2010
Last week our church began a 7-part series titled “Be Our Biggest Loser“. The series is about the things we want to lose in our lives – not just extra weight. A few of the topics we will address will be low self esteem, helplessness, anxiety, addictions and bitterness. I had the privilege of presenting the first teaching on “False Beliefs and Destructive Thinking.”
One of the key verses I based the teaching on is
“For as a man thinks within himself, so he is.” Proverbs 23:7
In the teaching I briefly covered the following topics:
- Satan is the deceiver
- Our defense- the Word of God
- Our identity
- We are all children of God
- The value of meditation and affirmations
- It’s all about the heart
One of the main points I made was the importance of renewing one’s mind according to Romans 12:2. My appreciation for this scripture is that Paul was not just referring to the process of thinking positive, heavenly thoughts. He was also encouraging the Romans to embrace the entire gospel. He was urging them to consider what Christ did for them on the cross and for them to live out the new life that they were given to them by Christ.
Based upon the feedback I received afterward, I thought I’d make my five pages of notes I referred to available here as a resource. Included in the notes are 20 relevant scriptures. To read and/or download a copy of the notes, visit the link below.
False Beliefs & Destructive Thinking
Hope that you have an awesome day!
Nov
03
2009
When I first saw this painting, it really got my attention… especially the nature of the corpse on the ground. My heart sank for a moment as I reflected on the souls of people that have not experienced God’s grace as a result of accepting his love. This picture inspired this blog post.
A War for Our Souls
There is a war going on for the souls of so many, many people. The evil one, or Satan, represented by a demon in the picture above, wants us all to spend eternity in hell and he wants our life on this earth to be a ‘living hell.’ God, on the other hand, represented by the angel, wants us all to live a full and rewarding life and to be with him in heaven for eternity after we leave this earth. In the painting, God is watching over the battle that is taking place daily in our lives.
This is a life-long, prolonged war that we are in with the devil, not a short-term battle like those fought between opposing forces of two armies that last a period of hours or several days.
Be assured that Satan is roaming around throughout our entire lifetime looking to take us down. Scripture tells us that ‘our enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.’ (1 Peter 5:8) We are also told that he deceives and leads the whole world astray in Revelation 12:9.
If we get caught up in listening to and believing the lies of Satan, it can take away the identity that God wants us to have in his Son, Jesus. We are told in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that we are a new person when we accept Jesus as our Savior. Satan wants us to believe otherwise. He wants us to develop thinking patterns that reinforce his lies and to have low self esteem that results from those lies.
How to Engage in the War
The good thing is that the Bible instructs us on methods to engage in the war with Satan. One of 18 ‘Spiritual Exercises’ I’ve identified is that of Thinking Spiritual Thoughts. The Apostle Paul provides us guidance about what our thinking ought to be like on a daily basis.
“Finally, brothers, 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.” Philippians 4:8
We are told in Ephesians 6:14 to “Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth.” When we put on the belt of truth we are reminding ourselves of the truths of God found in the Holy Bible. The more we can fix our minds on these truths, day in and day out, the more we will be successful in repelling the lies that Satan sends our way.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:10-12
Our Reward – Full Salvation
“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls…. therefore, prepare your minds for action.” (my italics) 1 Peter 1:8-9, 13
God wants you and me to not only live eternally with him but to experience a full and complete life when we are are this side of heaven!
To receive God’s full salvation… the full and complete wholeness that he wants you to experience, including a life of living well, you must guard against the lies of Satan and think on the truths found in God’s Word – the Holy Bible.
Questions to Reflect Upon:
Do you make a practice of monitoring your thinking patterns and are they in line with God’s guidance found in Philippians 4:8
Do you know what God says about you as his child and as a new creation once you’ve received his love by accepting Jesus as your Savior?
Where is your soul headed after you die on earth?
Additional Reading on the War for Our Souls
Article – Thinking Spiritual Thoughts – Renewing Your Mind
Read more about The Armor of God.
Blog Post – The Value of Speaking Positive Affirmations
An Invitation to Join God’s Family
Jul
21
2009
From PBS’s Religion and Ethics Newsweekly, the work of Andrew Newberg at the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Spirituality and the Mind is explored and discussed in an interview. Here are a few excerpts:
DR. NEWBERG: We’ve learned that being religious or spiritual has a very profound effect on who we are, has a very profound effect on our biology and on our brain, and what we’ve found more recently is that not only does it have a profound influence on who we are, but it actually can change our brain and to change ourselves over times.
Dr. NEWBERG: The more you use a part of the brain the more blood flow it gets and the brighter or more red it looks on the scans.
Follow the link below to read the interview or view it in a video.
The Brain and Faith.
“For as he(a man) thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7 KJV
Articles I’ve Written on Faith and Health
Are Your Thoughts Causing Health Problems?
Think Spiritual Thoughts/Renew Your Mind – A Spiritual Exercise for a Healthier Life
Jul
21
2008
James Allen, author of As a Man Thinketh, once said “You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.”
Our thoughts and emotions are represented in the body as electrochemical reactions. These chemicals are constantly floating around in our bodies and are stored in different places. The research is clear that negative thoughts, and the associated harmful chemicals, have detrimental effects on our health.
You can control the degree to which harmful chemicals float around in your body by adjusting your thinking patterns. Start by making a deliberate decision to change how you’re thinking. Commit to putting a concerted effort into this for a week and see if it doesn’t make a difference in your attitude, emotions and resulting behavior.
Begin to monitor your thinking patterns and identify when you’re thinking or meditating on negative thoughts or thoughts that cause you to be anxious or are connected with some other harmful emotion. Let those thoughts go and replace them with positive thoughts.
Read the Bible and meditate on scriptures. Believe what you read to be true and tuck these truths into your mind and your heart. Identify scriptures that are meaningful to you and create personal affirmations and speak them out loud. Here’s an example using Psalm 63:5. “You satisfy me more than the richest of foods.” When reading and meditating on scripture becomes part of your daily ‘diet,’ you’ll likely see a change in your thinking patterns.
Paul tells us in Philippians 4:8 “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
This spiritual exercise of healthy thinking is all important in living a healthy life. The more effective we can be at thinking as Paul urges us, the more likely we’ll live a full and healthier life.
Read my article on Think Spiritual Thoughts/Renew Your Mind… A Spiritual Exercise for a Healthier Life.
Read another article Are Your Thoughts Making You Unhealthy?
Learn about 17 other Spiritual Exercises for a Healthier Life.
