Week 2: Heart
Heart
Heart Connect – God’s design of our heart
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
Hebrew meaning of heart:
emotion, intellect, will and desire
Guard your Heart?
So, does absence make the heart grow fonder?
Do opposites really attract?
Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
(Psalm 37:4)
The word translated as “delight” comes from a Hebrew word that means soft, moldable, or pliable. It is a root word that implies pleasure and enjoyment. This is a wonderful word picture of our hearts becoming softer and more pliable as we are molded in our Master's hands.
Confession
(Acts 24:16)
Maintaining an empty conscience before God and others.
1. A clear conscience helps to clear out the toxins that contribute to the mental health cancers in our life.
2. Confession helps to purge the mental health toxins, leading to better holistic wellness.
Forgiveness = antidote to wounded hearts
Lower blood pressure
Stress reduction
Less hostility
Better anger-management skills
Lower heart rate
Lower risk of alcohol or substance abuse
Fewer depression symptoms
Fewer anxiety symptoms
Reduction in chronic pain
More friendships/connection
Healthier relationships
Greater spiritual well-being
Improved psychological well-being
Heart Plan for Living Well
Spiritually – Prayer. God is concerned with our heart health. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23)
Mentally – Think on things that shape the heart you want to have. …whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely (lovely by moral or ideal worth), whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)
Physically – Nutrition. Sleep. Laugh more. Focusing on those activities that “bring joy” is good medicine for the recovery and maintenance of health.
Heart – Delight in the Lord – Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4) Humility – Recognize we cannot go it alone. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalms 34:18)
Social/Family – “Draw a line in the sand of life…” Bring forward the assets you have and leave the past where it belongs. We can learn from the past, but it does not have to define us. Seek out connection with “positive others.” Togetherness with others has a chemical health benefit (oxytocin).
SCROLL TIME
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Notice the sensation of the device in your hand.
Brain and Mind Connect
God’s design of our mind, “the mind of Christ”
…But we have the mind of Christ.
(I Corinthians 2:16)
What does that look like?
Brain Functions - Brain AND Nervous System
Brain functions with day-to-day experiences
Surveillance System-Perception-Connection
Feelings-Behavior-Story
(cognitive and emotional functioning)
Stressors in life can disrupt the connection and operation of brain functions.
Trauma is a chronic disruption of Connectedness (CHOW)
Screen time is contributing to Convert stressors in our brains:
Impacts on the function of the mind and brain:
Brain Plan for Living Well
Do not conform 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)
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely (love by moral or ideal worth), 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 4:6-9)
Nine Researched Causes of Depression and Anxiety
1. Disconnections from meaningful work (purpose)
2. Disconnections from other people
3. Disconnections from meaningful values
4. Disconnections from childhood trauma
5. Disconnections from status and respect
6. Disconnections from the natural world
7. Disconnections from hopeful or secure future
8. The real role of genes
9. The brain changes
10. Disconnections from our Creator
Research: A different kind of antidepressant
What you think about… you become.
1. Connection with other people
2. Connection social prescribing
3. Connection to meaningful work
4. Connection to meaningful values
5. Connection sympathetic joy and overcoming addiction to the self
6. Connection acknowledging and overcoming childhood trauma
7. Connections restoring the future (hope)
8. Quiet time with the Lord, prayer, read the Word, boredom
Brain and Mind Disconnect
God’s design of our mind is “the mind of Christ.”
Satan’s goal is chaos, confusion and deception.
Examples of Satan’s influence on the brain?
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 and Philippians 4:6-9
Spiritually – Spend more quiet time with the Lord (reading, prayer, meditation and time with others with similar spiritual connection).
Mind – Reading helps to retrain the mind (concentration and focus, and minimizes the dopamine affect.
*Note: There is no credible research that supports pornography as helpful. Overwhelmingly, the research indicates it’s harm (physically, emotionally, relationships). Childhood exposure to pornography has a chilling/evil impact on their development. Pornography has negative/evil impact on cognitive distortion in adolescents. CHILDREN are especially vulnerable!!!!
*Note: Special attention should be given to the exposure related to the brain development (birth to 28ish).
*Note: Create boundaries for what you expose yourself to and focus on better quality time (more activities such as board games, recreation, hobbies, etc.).
Spiritually – Prayer. Recognize we are “wonderfully made” and designed in a way to be in harmony with Christ and others.
Mind – Read. Read. Read. “Take every thought captive” and use this filter: Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy, think on these things. (Phillipians 4:8).
Body – Sleep and healthy activities that “bring joy” are good medicine for recovery and movement.
Heart – Laughter. Participate in healthy activities that bring you joy - good for the soul and the physical heart.
Social/Family – Positive togetherness with others has a chemical health benefit (oxytocin).
Note: The “Joy Center” of the brain can be more easily activated by the body. Release of healthy doses of dopamine and serotonin.
SCROLL TIME
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Notice the movement of your finger.