The brain’s ability to change is greatest in childhood and adolescence. But change as an adult is still very possible. Knowledge, intelligence, and abilities can be acquired even into old age! There is a new science called neuroplasticity that focuses on neuro cells. It shows that the brain has the ability to add new nerve cells, change the way its regions communicate, and even rewire or replace some of its parts, remapping message pathways. This can occur to some degree, throughout our lives. We just have to follow the right methods.
The Bible records that “the Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.” Centuries later, the apostle Paul was still stating the same problem: “Although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
Wrong thinking can be a problem for all of us. So, in order to change our thinking and self-talk, we need a vision. You may call it a goal. It involves identifying the way you want your thinking to be and creating a new pattern of thinking and new phrases. In the book, Living Above the Level of Mediocrity, Chuck Swindoll describes what developing a vision really entails. He says that vision is the ability to see God’s presence, to perceive God’s power and to focus on God’s plan, in spite of the obstacles. Vision is the ability to see above and beyond the majority. He writes, “Too often we see things not as they are, but rather as we are and that vision has to do with looking at life with a divine perspective, reading the scene with God in clear focus.”
Biblical scripture tells us that our minds need to be changed before we can see with God’s eyes: “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed (changed) by the renewal of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
So, developing a vision can have a powerful effect. It can ignite change in your life for a better way of thinking. Never Give Up! Never Give Up! Never Give Up!
By Dr. Walter Ghosten
chaplain@lhp.net
